Match Preview :- Blyth Spartans - Saturday September 8th, 2007 (15:00:00)
Saturday?s visitors will be Blyth Spartans (kick off 3pm). Blyth currently occupy the third relegation spot after a disappointing start to the season that has seen them win their opening game, and take just two draws since.

Blyth have yet to win away from home, and, in the past twenty years at least, have yet to win at Bower Fold. Their opening day fixture at home to Alfreton Town saw them register their only win this season, beating them 2-0. Since then, they have failed to win in their five games. They did get a draw in their last game, at home to Tamworth, and their only points picked up on the road were at Hinckley when they took a 1-1 draw thanks to a Robbie Dale penalty.

Their last visit to Bower Fold saw them lose 3-2 in a tense game that Celtic looked to have sewn up until the last minute when a late goal saw Blyth go looking for the equaliser that never came allowing Celtic to register their first home win of last season?s campaign. The last time we played them was towards the end of last season when we visited the North East and were on the wrong end of a 1-0 score-line. That win for Blyth was their first win over Celtic in over a dozen attempts. In the league we?ve beaten them eleven times (home and away), including a President?s Cup final win on penalties (has Martin Filson?s penalty come down yet?).

This season Blyth have scored just four goals, and two of those were penalties (which does not bode well against a team that have conceded three penalties in three games). They have failed to score in three of their matches and kept just one clean sheet. On average, they are scoring 0.3 goals per game away from home (0.7 overall), whilst conceding 2.3 goals per game (1.7 overall). Last season?s top scorer was Robbie Dale, and he would have been on his way to being this season?s top scorer with two goals (he scored both penalties), but in their last match, the 1-1 draw with Tamworth, he twisted his ankle and has damaged ligaments that will keep him out for around six weeks.

Also doubtful through injury for the Spartans is central defender Richard Foster (back injury) and midfielder Gareth Williams (hamstring). Replacing Robbie Dale is new signing Foli Shekoni a Nigerian striker whom had trials at Sunderland.

In their last match, the 1-1 draw with Tamworth, Blyth lined up as:
1. Adam Bartlett
2. Gareth Williams
3. Ben Christensen
4. Peter Snowdon
5. Michael Coulthard
6. Andrew Leeson
7. Andrew Thompson
8. Chris McCabe
9. Robert Dale
10. Afelobi Shekoni
11. Michael Maidens

Mark Haran limped off in Celtic?s last match, the 2-1 defeat away at Nuneaton, and will have to undergo a fitness test ahead of the game on Saturday. Also missing will be Steve Payne due to a wedding. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Paddy Gamble
2. Michael Stringfellow
3. Andrew Smart
4. James Dudgeon
5. Mark Haran
6. Paul Sykes
7. Lee Ellington
8. Ashley Burbeary
9. Chris Hall
10. Matty Barlow
11. Carlos Roca

The automated prediction algorithm might be predicting a 3-2 win for Celtic in this match, but it will be no easy ride. Blyth started their campaign with several absentees, such as the Gildea brothers, and will present a stern test. Celtic need to find some consistency in their performances. In each game we have started like rockets, but not had that killer touch that allows us a more comfortable game, allowing the opposition back into the match. We are currently mid-table and this early in the season, a favourable set of results could see us get to seventh, whilst an unfavourable set of results could see us swap places with Blyth around the foot of the table.
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