On Saturday, weather permitting, Celtic host Trafford. Trafford are currently twentieth on twenty-nine points, sixteen places and forty points behind Celtic. Kick-off 3pm.

Trafford are fighting for survival. Two wins from safety with six games left. They are giving it a good go. Bottom for most of the season, with two wins until mid-January, they have turned it around. In their last ten games, they have won five, drawn two and lost three. All five wins were at home, but they beat Lower Breck 4-0, Clitheroe 3-0 and Atherton 4-1. In their last six away matches, Trafford have lost five and drawn one, away at Nantwich. Nobody has won fewer away games than Trafford this season, and nobody has lost more. They hold the current league record for the most consecutive games lost, at eight.

Part of this away record is their goals. They have the third worst away attack, behind Khalsa and Newcastle, with the third worst away defence, behind Darlaaston and Wythenshawe. On average, they score 0.8 away from home (1.3 overall) and concede 2.2 goals per game away from home (1.8 overall). They have failed to score in nine games on the road, and never kept a clean sheet on the road. They have suffered the worst away defeat of any team, losing 9-0 to Bury, and have had the highest goal aggregate when Celtic beat them 6-4 in Trafford.

We’ve met Trafford twice this season. That 6-4 back in September (with Ruben Jerome netting five and Ellis Horan grabbing the other), coming just ten days after knocking them out of the FA Trophy by beating them 2-0 (with Jack Irlam and Elliot Rokka on the score sheet). Last season, we lost 2-1 at Bower Fold in August, a Liam Tongue penalty a mere consolation, and beat them 2-1 in Trafford back in January, Joe Duckworth and Jack Tinning the scorers.

In Trafford’s last match, the 2-1 home win over Stafford, Trafford lined up as:
1. Harvey Bardsley
2. Kyle Worsley
3. Jack Sloan
4. Ollie Southern
5. Harry Norris
6. Scott Sephton
7. Izak Khan
8. Mackena Bradshaw
9. Charlie Frost
10. James Butterworth
11. Harry Evers

In Celtic’s last match, the 2-0 home win over Lower Breck, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Mike Koral
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Aaron Chalmers
5. Charlie Doyle
6. Jack Tinning
7. Andy Scarisbrick
8. Liam Tongue
9. Benni Smales-Braithwaite
10. Jack Irlam
11. Ellis Horan

Ruben Jerome is back for this match, but Celtic must make do with Liam Tongue, after his controversial dismissal against Lower Breck. Jack Tinnnig was substituted off with a tight hamstring, and will be assessed, but should be available.

If results go Celtic’s way, we could go second. Avro (at home to Bootle) are one point above Celtic, while Runcorn (at home to Bury) are level on points, with a better goal-difference. Bury themselves are five points clear. A draw for Runcorn Bury and a loss for Avro, would put Celtic second, three points behind top spot. If results go against Celtic, neither Lower Breck (at home to Atherton) nor Vauxhall Motors (away at Wythenshawe) can reach us, both being four behind.