Celtic get back to football on Saturday with an away day to Alfreton Town (kick off 3pm). Alfreton are just outside the relegation zone in seventeenth, with eight points. Their league position belies their recent form, which has seen them go through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA cup to face Hereford, after seeing off Whitby Town 2-1.

Alfreton?s season has not been quite what they hoped for, thus far. They have won just twice, once at home and once away, and drawn twice. Their home win came courtesy of a 2-1 win over Redditch at the beginning of September (which was their last home game), whilst their 3-2 away win came in August at Hyde. Their two draws were both away, at Hinckley and Worksop. More recently, they lost away at Droylsden. Thus far, they have managed to gain three points from a possible twelve at home.

Like Celtic, they have conceded in every league game so far this season, but unlike Celtic, have failed to score in three games, including their most recent away day at Droylsden. At home, Lancaster prevented them from scoring in their only home game without a home goal. Their top scorer this campaign is Chris White with four goals, who was rested in their recent FA Cup win over Whitby. Jon Stevenson is hot on his heels with three, two of which were scored only recently (and he got one of the two against Whitby).

Six of their eleven goals have been scored around the half time interval, mainly just after, making this their most dangerous period. Two thirds of their conceding has been done in the second half, with four conceded in the last ten minutes of their matches. On average they score 1.25 goals per game at home, whilst conceding 2.25.

Celtic have yet to register an away win this campaign, though we have drawn two of our four games, and possibly should have done better in the two we lost. Though we have conceded in every league game, Celtic?s scoring form is something to be proud of, and are one of the few teams in the league to have scored in every match (Droylsden and Northwich are the other two). Away from home, we are not quite as prolific at home, scoring 1.5 goals per game, whilst conceding 2.25.

Our top scorer is Lee Ellington, with nine league goals (though he has only scored once away), Neil Prince takes second place with five league goals. Paul Sykes has four, as does Jody Banim, though his were scored for Droylsden!

In their home win against Whitby Town in the FA cup, Alfreton lined up as:
1. Greg Smith
2. Ryan Clarke
3. Lee Featherstone
4. Mark Blount
5. Mark Turner
6. Gary Mills
7. Jason Blunt
8. Matt Fisher
9. Mick Godber
10. Jon Stevenson
11. Chris Bettney

In Celtic?s last game, the 3-1 win over Harrogate, we lined up as:
1. Paul Pettinger
2. Grant Black
3. Mark Barnard
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Mark Haran
6. Chris Price
7. Steve Garvey
8. Paul Sykes
9. Lee Ellington
10. Jody Banim
11. Neil Prince

With the long rest, and training sessions, Celtic will be looking to recapture some of the form that saw them see off Harrogate. Hopefully, Jody Banim will have bedded in better, and can start finding the net. The automated prediction algorithm has taken into account Alfreton?s general poor home results, against Celtic?s inability to win away from home this season, and gone for a 2-2 draw. If Celtic can sparkle, our first away win of the campaign could come Saturday.