Match Preview :- Gloucester City - Saturday August 27th, 2016 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic face Gloucester City in their league clash with a 3pm kick off. Gloucester finished last seaso0n in fifteenth on fifty points, three points and three places behind Celtic. There will be a match centre for this game.

Last season, Gloucester's run in saw them drop from ninth to fifteenth with a run of one win in thirteen games, that win being against eventual playoff champions, North Ferriby. Most of those games were draws, with four losses. Their top scorers were Joe Parker and Lewis Hall both with five goals. That indicates that the Tigers had a lot of problems scoring, and that was reflected with having the lowest number of goals scored in the league, with thirty-nine. However, they had a top five defence, with only three teams conceding fewer goals. So while they failed to score in sixteen games, they also kept twelve clean sheets. Their biggest win was against us, at home, when they won 3-0.

So far this season, Gloucester have won twice and drawn once, beating Worcester away and Gainsborough at home. They had an impressive 1-1 away draw at Salford City on the opening day of the season. Their only loss was their most recent game when Darlington beat them 2-1 at their place. Given that they put four past Gainsborough and three past Worcester and have scored in every game this season, it would look like they have put their striker troubles to bed. However, they have also conceded in every game, trading attack for defence. Lawrie Hall is their new star-striker, and currently has three of City's eight goals, all of which scored in the second half.

Gloucester won the last encounter between the two teams, beating us 3-0 at their place, which came off the back of three straight wins by Celtic. Since the formation of the Conference North, Gloucester have never won at Bower Fold, their last visit being a 1-0 win by Celtic, a late Chris Simm goal all that separated the two teams. Harley Wigley and Tom Bentham provided the goals the season before, when Celtic won 2-1 at home, Stefan Galinksi getting the only goal in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Gloucester have twice held Celtic to draws at Bower Fold, once in January 2014, and again in September 2011. Both games finished 2-2.

Gloucester will be looking to get back to winning ways, having been beaten by Darlington on their own patch. In that match, that finished 2-1 to Darlington, Gloucester lined up as::
1. Jas Singh:
2. Keiran Thomas:
3. Lewis Hall:
4. Sam Avery:
5. Jack Deaman:
6. Chris Knowles:
7. Joe Hanks:
8. Tom Webb:
9. Luke Hopper:
10. Joe Parker:
11. Edward Williams

Celtic have yet to win at home, losing both our opening two home matches, and our last two away matches. We have conceded eleven goals in those four matches and scored just twice in response. There have been several injuries of late, with some still off returning. Jimmy Ball and Matty Hughes will be having fitness tests ahead of the game, whilst John Shaw and Aidan Chippendale are still some way off. Andy Owens and Kristian Platt are hopeful to be fully fit, having come through at least a half at Kidderminster, whilst Danny Pilkington, who limped off in that match, will have to be assessed. In our last match, the 2-1 away defeat to Kidderminster Harriers, Celtic lined up as::
1. Tony McMillan:
2. Peter Wylie:
3. Graham Kelly:
4. Aaron Chalmers:
5. Nick Ryan:
6. Kristian Platt:
7. Liam Hynes:
8. Danny Wisdom:
9. Andy Owens:
10. Steve Tames:
11. Henoc Mukendi

Celtic need a home win and a good performance. History is on our side for this match, though the Tigers have started off the season strongly. As we edge toward the ten goal mark, it would be vastly more preferable to be in the top half off the table.

There is a full fixture list on Saturday, the other fixtures are:
AFC Fylde v FC Halifax Town
AFC Telford v Stockport County
Altrincham v Curzon Ashton
Boston United v Kidderminster Harriers
Brackley Town v FC United of Manchester
Darlington v Alfreton Town
Harrogate Town v Nuneaton Town
Salford City v Gainsborough Trinity
Tamworth v Bradford Park Avenue
Worcester City v Chorley

Match Sponsor
Match day sponsor
required
0161 338 2828
Ball Sponsor
Ball sponsor
required
0161 338 2828
Man of the Match Sponsor
Man of the Match sponsor
required
0161 338 2828
Programme Sponsor
Programme sponsor
required
0161 338 2828