On Tuesday Celtic are back in Manchester Premier Cup action when we face Trafford at Shawe View. Trafford are currently nineteenth in the league on twelve points, fifteen places and nine points behind Celtic. Kick-off is 7:45pm.

Since playing them in October in the league, Trafford’s results have been picking up. They won their first game of the season at the end of October, and then won away Witton in their last match, beating Nantwich at home 2-1, and Witton away 4-0. Before that, they had lost five and drawn six, leaving them in the drop zone. Trafford are entering the Manchester Premier Cup in this round, whilst Celtic have already beaten Mossley in a preliminary round.

Eddie Servuts is currently their top scorer on four, one ahead of Tom Bentham. Former Celtic striker, Mike Burke is also on the scorers chart now, having found the net twice in their last match. On average, Trafford have scored their sixteen league goals (nine away) at a rate of 1.2 goals per game (1.3 away). They have the fourth worst attack in the league, with only Widnes, Northwich and Nantwich scoring fewer. Defensively, they have conceded their eighteen goals (ten away) at a rate of 1.4 goals per game (1.4 away) conceding the same number as Celtic. Trafford have failed to score three times on the road, and have kept one clean sheet.

Historically, we’ve me twice competitively, beating them both times, and both times this season. Once in the FA Trophy back in September (2-1), and again in the league (1-0). In Trafford’s last match, the 4-0 away win over Witton, Trafford lined up as:
1. Brad Rose
2. Ally Brown
3. Damola Sotona
4. Kwame Osigwe
5. Harry Norris
6. Scott Kay
7. Mike Burke
8. Danny Lambert
9. Eddie Servuts
10. Rob Worrall
11. Abet Zazai

In Celtic’s last league match, the 1-0 away loss In Chasetown, Celtic lined up as:
1. Luke Hewitson
2. Scott Wara
3. Jordan Burton
4. Brandon Newell
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Jai Curran-Nichols
7. Brad Byrne
8. Jack Irlam
9. Max Leonard
10. Max Harrop
11. Aaron Dwyer

Matty Bryan came on as sub against Chasetown, having recovered from his injury, whilst Tom Thorpe and Jack Tinning are both still out.