Match Preview :- Stafford Rangers - Saturday September 1st, 2018 (15:00:00)

On Saturday Celtic travel to Stafford Rangers (kick off 3pm). Stafford have yet to win this season, with two draws and two losses. Their most recent game was a 1-1 home draw with Mickleover. There will not be a match centre, but there will be a Twitter feed for this game.

Last season, Stafford finished thirteenth, with a real mixed bag of results. They started the season with one loss and a draw in the opening five to pick up ten points, but then picked up one point out of their next five. October was good, but November and December were not. They finished the season with two wins, two draws and two losses, their final game a 3-0 away win over Nantwich, whilst they haven't won at home since they beat Coalville Town 4-1 in mid-March. The mixed bag also featured against Celtic, with Celtic winning 2-0 at Bower Fold, but Stafford winning 2-0 in Stafford.

Their top scorer last season was Robert Thompson-Brown, who scored eleven goals, three ahead of Dan Westwood on eight. Neither player are still with the club, with new boss, and Celtic's old boss, Steve Burr putting his stamp on the team. One of those is former Celtic winger, Theo Bailey-Jones. Last season, Stafford scored fifty-four goals, with only the bottom two in the league scoring fewer. Twenty-eight of these were at home, at a rate of 1.2 goals per game. They conceded fifty-eight goals, giving them the fifth best defence in the league. Thirty-four of these were at home at a rate of 1.5 goals per game, with only a goal per game conceded away they had an overall conceding rate of 1.3 goals per game. They kept eight clean sheets at home (from fifteen overall) and failed to score seven times at home from sixteen overall.

In the past twenty-five years, we've visited Stafford nine times. They won the last encounter 2-0, but you have to go back to 2006 to find their previous win at home over us, with Celtic winning three since then. Our last win there was in 2010 when we won 3-1, with Connor Jennings, Phil Marsh and Tim Ryan sealing a solid victory. In the nine visits, we've won three, they've won four and we've drawn twice.

In Stafford's last match, the 1-1 home draw with Mickleover Sports, they lined up as:
1. Adam Whitehouse
2. Lewis Banks
3. Alex Curtis
4. Luke Jones
5. Jack Sherratt
6. Tom Marshall
7. Theo Bailey-Jones
8. Tom Thorley
9. Kyle Perry
10. Harry Benns
11. Joe Cuff

In Celtic's last match, the 1-0 home win over Workington, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jake Turner
2. Liam Tongue
3. Scott Wilson
4. Tom Brown
5. Danny Brady
6. Michael Clarke
7. Greg Wilkinson
8. Billy Akrigg
9. Scott Bakkor
10. John Marsden
11. Niall Flint

Celtic are hopeful that Glen Rule's and Luke Wall's international clearances will arrive in time for kick off on Saturday, and Matty Wolfenden was missing from the 1-0 win due to a tight hamstring, but otherwise have a full squad to choose from. Celtic have had an unbeaten start to the season, whilst Stafford have yet to win. Stafford have, however, drawn both of their home games so far this season, and Steve Burr will be looking to end their run at the expense of Celtic's getting one over his former team.

Directions
Distance: 68
Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

From the M67 join the M60 towards Stockport.
After 7 miles, leave the M60 at Junction 4 (Chester, M6) to join the M56 Stay on the M56 for 7 miles, coming off at junction 7 (Northwich, M6) to join the A556.
The roundabout can be avoided by using the slip road.
Stay on the A556 for 5 miles to the roundabout with the M6.
Join the M6 southbound (Birmingham) avoiding the roundabout by using the slip road.
Stay on the M6 for 38 miles to junction 14 with the A34 (Stafford).
At the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road, turn left exit 1 of 5 onto the A34 (signposted Uttoxeter).
After 3/4 of a mile there is a roundabout - go straight across (exit 2 of 4) to join the A513 (Beaconside).
After 1/2 a mile, take the third right (immediate next right after the first left onto Marston Lane) onto Common Road.
The club is one mile down Common Road opposite the Audi garage.