On Saturday, Celtic travel to Lincolnshire when we go to face Gainsborough in a massive six-pointer of a game. Gainsborough are currently three points and one place off the bottom three with twenty-five points in nineteenth, just twelve points and two places above Celtic. There will be a match centre and Twitter feed for this game.

Like ourselves, Gainsborough have had a torrid season this year, never getting into the top half, with thirteenth their high spot. With one win in their opening nine games, they even occupied the bottom spot at one point. They have had just one win in their last nine games, their last game was a 3-2 away win at Altrincham. The other eight of those games were three draws and five losses. Their last home win was back at the start of October, when they beat Tamworth 3-2. Since then, they have had two draws and two losses, their last home game being a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Boston.

With nine goals, Ashley Worsfold is Gainsborough's top scorer, four clear of Nathan Jarman and Jordan Thewlis. They have scored thirty-five goals (eighteen at home) at an average of 1.4 goals per game (1.5 at home). They've conceded fifty-one goals (eighteen at home) at a rate of two goals per game (1.5 at home). They have the fifth worst defensive record in the league, keeping just one clean sheet. They've failed to score in five games now, two of which were at home.

We have already faced Gainsborough this season, beating them 3-2 at Bower Fold, with a goal from Aidan Chippendale and two penalties from Andy Owen securing vital points. Our last visit to Northolme was August last season, when they won 3-1, with Adam Farrell's late goal a consolation. Celtic's last win in Gainsborough was in 2013, when we won 2-0, with goals from Adam Pepper and Sean McConville in the second half more than enough to see off Trinity. Since 1988, we have played twenty-four times in Gainsborough, we have won seven, Gainsborough have won seven, and there have been ten draws.

In Gainsborough's last match, the 3-2 away win over Altrincham, they lined up as:
1. George Willis
2. Dom Roma
3. Josh Lacey
4. Matt Thornhill
5. Ioan Evans
6. Jake Picton
7. James Reid
8. Gavin Rothery
9. Noel Burdett
10. Ashley Worsfold
11. Jordan Thewlis

Celtic won their last game, and it's been a while since that was a phrase, when we beat Halifax 1-0 at home. In that match, we lined up as:
1. Grant Shenton
2. Matty Hughes
3. Adam Mather
4. Keil O'Brien
5. Fraser Horsfall
6. Aaron Chalmers
7. Darren McKnight
8. Gary Gee
9. Danny Wilkins
10. Lee Gaskill
11. Florian Da Silva

A win or loss for Celtic wouldn't see any movement, but a win would close the gap on Gainsborough to nine points, with a game in hand, and make another Great Escape look a little more hopeful. A loss, though, would see Gainsborough rise several places, and probably out of our reach. This is a game Celtic desperately need to win. Two teams who are potentially in reach, Altfreton and Worcester, play each other, so it is likely that one or the other will become unreachable leaving a smaller pot to aim at.

Other matches this weekend:
Alfreton Town (25pts 18th) v Worcester City (26pts 17th)
Bradford Park Avenue (22pts 20th) v Boston United (29pts 14th)
Chorley (47pts 3rd) v Altrincham (8pts 22nd)
Curzon Ashton (27pts 16th) v AFC Fylde (56pts 1st)
FC Halifax Town (41pts 8th) v Salford City (44pts 5th)
FC United of Manchester (32pts 12th) v Harrogate Town (38pts 10th)
Kidderminster Harriers (47pts 2nd) v AFC Telford (27pts 15th)
Nuneaton Town (31pts 3rd) v Brackley Town (39pts 9th)
Stockport County (42pts 7th) v Darlington (45pts 4th)