On Saturday Celtic face table topping Prescot Cables. Prescot are currently two points and one place above Celtic in the league, with a game in hand. Kick-off is 3pm.

Having started the season with two wins from their opening six games, beating Vauxhall and Northwich, but losing to Mossley, Avro and Clitheroe, they have since gone unbeaten with seven wins and two draws, dropping points at Nantwich and at home to Widnes, giving them the longest undefeated streak in the league so far this season. Their last loss was back in September, when they lost 2-0 at home to Clitheroe, whilst their only away loss of the season came on the opening day, losing 2-1 at Mossley. Their last away match saw them beat Hednesford 2-0, whilst their last match was a 5-1 thumping of Trafford.

Mossley were the only team to put two past them on the road, and with two other conceded goals all season, they have the meanest away defence of the league, conceding four in total at a rate of 0.6 goals per game and keeping four clean sheets (an away record in the league). They have only failed to score in one away match this season, a goalless draw at Bootle at the end of August and have scored twelve of their twenty-seven goals on the road this season, at a rate of 1.7 goals per game (1.8 overall). Seven of those goals were scored by John Murphy, who has about half of their away goals this season.

Celtic have met Prescot three times competitively, once in the Unibond Cup, which Prescot won 2-1 back in 2003, and then again in 2017 when we met in the FA Trophy. Celtic held Prescot to a 0-0 draw at their place, bringing them back for a replay, which Celtic won 5-1 with a brace from Liam Dickinson and goals from Theo Bailey-Jones, Jake Charles and John Cofie.

In Cable’s last match, the 5-1 home win over Trafford, Prescot lined up as:
1. Mitchell Allen
2. Alex McNally
3. Matthew Devine
4. Anthony Donaldson
5. Liam Hollett
6. Francis Smith
7. Jack Goodwin
8. James Foley
9. John Murphy
10. Kyle Sambor
11. James Devine

In Celtic’s last league match, the 2-2 away draw with Kidsgrove, Celtic lined up as:
1. Luke Hewitson
2. Pawel Zuk
3. Cole Lonsdale
4. Joe Robbins
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Max Leonard
7. Aaron Dwyer
8. Michael Brewster
9. Darius Osei
10. Jack Irlam
11. Max Harrop

Both Connor O’Grady and Aaron Dwyer are suspended for Saturday’s match. Aaron from his dismissal at Chasetown, whilst Connor has accrued five yellows this season.

With only two points separating the us and Prescot, a win would put us top. Three teams are able to overtake us if we lose, though with Runcorn (away at Widnes), Leek (at home to Witton) and Avro (away at Northwich) all able to go ahead of us, and both Runcorn and Leek able to overtake us if we get a draw.