On Saturday, attention turns to the Manchester Premier Cup in which Celtic face FC United of Manchester. FC United currently top the league on twenty-seven points, twelve points and sixteen places above Celtic. Kick-off 3pm.

After winning two of their opening seven games, FC United turned their fortunes around in September when they went on a seven game unbeaten run, winning six and drawing one. They have drawn two of their last three home games, dropping points against Marine and, in their last game, against Lancaster, with both finishing 1-1. Their last win at home saw them beat Morpeth 4-2. Their last home loss was against Radcliffe at the end of August. FC United have yet to be winning at haf time this season, generally drawing.

FC United have scored in all but one home game this season, and failed to score in one away match. Only Morpeth and Warrington Rylands have scored more goals overall this season, and have the fourth best attack, with Gainsborough having scored fewer in two fewer games. Four teams have scored more home goals this season. In Regan Linney, FC United have the league’s top scorer, on twelve goals, scoring just under half of FC United’s twenty-seven goals this season. He has scored twice as many away from home as at home, with four of FC United’s twelve home goals coming from him. They have conceded in all but one home match this season (a goalless draw against Nantwich), but have kept four clean sheets on the road, conceding ten of their sixteen goals at home at a rate of 1.2 goals per game (a goal per game overall). They score 1.5 goals per home game from 1.7 overall.

We’ve met FC United twice in the Manchester Cup, beating them 4-3 in 2015 with Darius Osei and Steve Tames both giving Celtic the lead, Matty Hughes equalising and Chris Simm grabbing a winner with ten minutes to go. We also met in the final in 2017, when a rather bizarre win-assisted goal in the opening three minutes handed the cup to FC United. In the league, out last win there was in 2016, when Danny Wisdom’s second half goal was enough for the points. That was our only win at their ground. The last meeting between the two sides was a 2-1 win for FC United last season, when Raul Correia grabbed a consolation in stoppage time, following on from a 5-2 win over them at Bower Fold, with two from Marcus Dackers and one each from Jay Fitzmartin, Justin Johnson and Sam Wedgebury.

In FC United’s last match, the 1-1 home draw over Lancaster City, FC United lined up as:
1. Dan Lavercombe
2. Alex Wollerton
3. Finlay Armstrong
4. Paul Ennis
5. Andy Halls
6. Curtis Jones
7. Callum Gribbin
8. Michael Potts
9. Regan Linney
10. Joseph Rodwell-Grant
11. Dontai Gabison

In Celtic’s last match, the win on penalties at home to Warrington, Celtic lined up as:
1. Greg Hall
2. Tom Miller
3. Matty Carson
4. Scott Holding
5. Dahrius Waldron
6. Moses Yoak
7. Aaron Grewal
8. Ethan Padden
9. David Dangana
10. Domaine Rouse
11. Nathan Caine

Celtic rested several players against Warrington and gave the fringe players a chance. As with the Warrington game Celtic are underdogs, giving us another free roll of the dice.