On Saturday, Celtic are back in action after a break, when we travel to Trafford. Trafford are currently 18th on 23 points, 14 places and 15 points behind Celtic. Kick-off is 3pm.

It took Trafford until the last day of October before they registered a win this season, though they managed six draws in that period, along with five losses. Home and away wins over Nantwich and Witton looked like they’d turned a corner, but three losses and a draw saw them dip again in the table. However, since losing to Kidsgrove at the end of November, they went on a seven-game streak without a loss, winning two and drawing five. Nobody has drawn more games than Trafford this season, with 11 in total, though Avro have equalled that. Trafford’s most recent game last Saturday saw them lose 4-0 away at Chasetown, meaning it’s now five games since their last win, a 1-0 victory over Hednesford at home.

Only Northwich and Newcastle have scored fewer home goals than Trafford’s 11, giving them the league’s third worst home attack, whilst they have the fifth best home defence, conceding 13 this season. Their top scorer, with five goals, is Eddie Servuts. Former Celtic attackers Michael Burke and Tom Bentham are in joint second with three apiece. On average they score a goal per game, with 0.9 goals per game scored at home, failing to score four of their eight blanks at home. In total, they’ve scored 11 of their 24 goals at home. Defensively, they concede 1.4 goals per game, with a 1.1 conceded at home, keeping three of their five clean sheets at home. In total, they’ve conceded 13 of the their 34 goals at home.

Since 2000, we’ve met Trafford three times competitively. All three this season. Though in the most recent encounter, Trafford beat us 3-2 at home in the Manchester Cup (with a second half comeback to cancel out Aaron Dwyer and Obua Mugalula goals), Celtic beat them 2-1 in Trafford in the FA Trophy (with an Aaron Dwyer opener and an own goal giving Celtic an unassailable lead) and 1-0 at Bower Fold in the league (with Matty Bryan scoring moments after the restart).

In Trafford’s last match, the 4-0 away defeat at Chasetown, Trafford lined up as:
1. Sam Booth
2. Sean Higgins
3. Jerome Wright
4. Jordan Fagbola
5. Harry Norris
6. Scott Kay
7. Ally Brown
8. Chris Rowny
9. Eddit Survuts
10. Rob Worrall
11. Damola Sotona

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

Celtic could go second with a win if results go our way. Prescot (home to Nantwich) are two ahead, whilst Runcorn (away at Vauxhall) are one point ahead. Two points behind Celtic are Chasetown (away at Bootle), with Avro (away at Hanley) and Witton (at home to Kidsgrove) three points behind, but Celtic have a better goal difference.