Celtic are back down the M1 on Tuesday to face Gainsborough Trinity this time. Gainsborough are currently twelfth, four points behind Celtic, and won their last game, 3-2 against Barrow. Celtic are yet to win away from home this season, though we have drawn more than we?ve lost. However, this will be Lee Ellington?s first trip back to Gainsborough since signing for Celtic, and hopefully, he?ll want a hatful.

Gainsborough have won once on the road this season, at Vauxhall Motors, and have two draws and two wins at home, beating Leigh RMI in addition to Barrow, and drawing with Hednesford and Moor Green. Hinckley were the last team to beat them at home, back at the beginning of September. Celtic?s previous encounters with Gainsborough have seen the last three games, home and away, end in draws. Indeed, our last five league trips to the Northolme have ended in draws. Over the last eighteen years, the only league game that Gainsborough beat us in, was at Northolme back in 1991, when they won 3-1. So we have a good record against them, though we have only won twice (in the league) at their place in that time. We also have quite a good cup record against them!

That said, Celtic?s indifferent away form this season would suggest that another draw is on the cards, though the automated prediction algorithm has gone for 3-2 to Gainsborough ? they are overdue a win, after all.

Gainsborough have failed to score in two games this season, both of those away. At home, they have scored in every match, with an average of 1.8. They have conceded in every game this season, conceding 1.6 at home. Most of their scoring is done in the second half, with six goals scored around the seventy minute mark. Conceding is done mainly in the first half, with six of their fifteen goals against going in during the opening fifteen minutes.

Their top scorers so far this campaign are Richard Pell and Dave Reeves, both of whom have three goals, putting them outside the top twenty goal scorers in the league, down in 23rd.

Gainsborough will most probably be without the services of captain Adam Burley, who was dismissed for a horror clash with Barrow?s Mike Rushton. The line up for the 3-2 win over Barrow was:
1. Jamie Holmshaw
2. Wes Parker
3. Adam Burley
4. Nick Ellis
5. Richard Pell
6. Liam Needham
7. Charlie Trout
8. Alex Higgins
9. Dave Reeves
10. Udenkwor
11. Matty Caudwell

Steve Garvey limped off in Celtic?s 0-0 draw at Alfreton, and may or may not be fit in time for Tuesday night. The line up for that game was:
1. Paul Pettinger
2. Ben Smith
3. Mark Barnard
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Mark Haran
6. Chris Price
7. Steve Garvey
8. Paul Sykes
9. Lee Ellington
10. Jody Banim
11. Neil Prince

With our next two away games being at Nuneaton and Kettering, both notoriously hard places to get anything from, Celtic need to be looking to pick up the full compliment of points against Gainsborough if we are to keep around the play off spots. It might be early days, but the top three are beginning to pull away, and with Kettering now having a big money backer, one can expect them to join the top three of Stafford, Nuneaton and Northwich. It is vital, therefore, that Celtic keep the pressure on. Gainsborough are a physical team, going off their recent Barrow game, so Celtic will need to produce a scintillating performance to ensure that they are not overwhelmed.