On Saturday, Celtic are finally back at home to face Runcorn Linnets. Runcorn are currently two places and six points above Celtic in third, having played a game less. Kick-off is 3pm.

After a hit and miss start to the season, winning three in their opening nine, Runcorn found consistency at the end of October, and in the seventeen games since have lost five, and drawn one. In their last five away matches, they have won three and lost two, Their last away match saw them beat Vauxhall 4-2, whilst their last away defeat was the game before when Newcastle beat them 1-0. Their last two matches have been at home, winning the most recent by beating Clitheroe 5-1. Back in mid-November they stunned current Champions Elect, Leek with a 5-0 win in Runcorn, giving them their best home result this season.

With eleven goals, Oliver Malloy is currently leading their goal scorers, with Will Saxon closest on seven. In total, they have scored forty-four, putting them third in the best attacks in the league. Twenty of those have come away from home, scored at a rate of 1.5 goals per game away from home and 1.7 overall. Four of their six failures to score came on the road, whilst they kept two of their eight clean sheets away from home. Their last away clean sheet was a 1-0 win over Chasetown back at the end of December. Runcorn conceded nineteen of their twenty-nine goals on the road, at a rate of 1.5 goals per game away and 1.1 overall. With eight goals, their most dangerous period is right before half time. Whilst with seven conceded, they do let in a lot of late goals.

We have already played and lost to Runcorn this season at their place back at the end of September, when they won 1-0 with a less than convincing Celtic performance. Prior to that, our meetings have been in the Cheshire Senior Cup twice times (with a replay) and the FA Cup once. Runcorn have won two of those encounters, with Celtic winning once.

In Runcorn’s last match, the 5-1 home defeat of Clitheroe, the Linnets lined up as:
1. Bayleigh Passant
2. Sam Barratt
3. James Short
4. Jacques Welsh
5. Sean O’Mahony
6. Anthony Kay
7. Kieran Knapper
8. Lewis Doyle
9. Oliver Malloy
10. Will Saxon
11. Mackenzie O’Neill

In Celtic’s last match, the 1-1 away draw with Widnes, Celtic lined up as:
1. Luke Hewitson
2. Pawel Zuk
3. Cole Lonsdale
4. Max Leonard
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Taylor McMahon
7. Brad Byrne
8. Dale Whitham
9. Darius Osei
10. Joe Robbins
11. Jacques Etia

A win for Celtic could see us rise one place, with only Witton within reach (away at Widnes), though it would half the distance to Runcorn. A loss could see us drop to mid-table with five clubs all within three points of us. Chasetown and Clitheroe playing each other, Bootle at home to Nantwich, Widnes hosting Witton, and Avro away at Kidsgrove.