On Saturday, weather permitting, Celtic will host Avro. There will be a pitch inspection at 10:45 ahead of a 3pm kick off. Avro are currently level on points and one place above Celtic in fourth having a three better goal difference.

Avro have only lost one away game this season, away at Bootle at the end of October. With three draws and five wins they top the away form table. They have the third best away defence, behind Prescot and Bootle, and the joint eighth best away attack. Avro have already beaten table topping Leek in Leek back in November, though their last away game saw them draw 1-1 with Nantwich. Their last loss was at the start of December when Runcorn beat them at home. Their last away win was the game before, when they struck twice late on to beat Northwich 2-1.

Avro are unique this season in not having a league top scorer. Instead, nine different players have two goals each, and a further six have one. Away from home Avro score an average of 1.6 goals per game, compared to 1.3 overall. They have failed to score in one away match, the loss at Bootle. Three of their seven clean sheets have come on the road, and they concede at a rate of 1.1 goals per game (1.0 overall).

We’ve played Avro twice. Both times this season in Avro. Both times Avro won. They came back to win 3-2 after losing their goalkeeper in the league match, and held Celtic to 0-0 in the FA Trophy, beating us on penalties.

In Avro’s last match, 1-1 home draw with Trafford, Avro lined up as:
1. Grant Shenton
2. Matthew Crothers
3. Kane Wallwork
4. James Dwyer
5. Deane Smalley
6. Geffry Ebhote
7. Liam Ellis
8. Ethan Kershaw
9. Kyle Hawley
10. Max Harrop
11. Sean Etaluku

In Celtic’s last match the 2-0 away defeat by Mossley, Celtic lined up as:
1. Luke Hewitson
2. Pawel Zuk
3. Cole Lonsdale
4. Max Leonard
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Jack Tinning
7. Aaron Dwyer
8. Michael Brewster
9. Darius Osei
10. Jack Irlam
11. Obua Mugalula

Celtic need a win to get their promotion hopes back on track. We are now eight points behind league leaders, Leek (away at Kidsgrove), but still in touch with second, Runcorn (away at Witton), who are three points ahead. Prescot (at home to Bootle) are one point ahead, whilst Avro are level on points. Kidsgrove and Bootle are both within three points of Celtic, making it congested at the top, and a loss could see us drop out of the top five.