Match Preview :- Redditch United - Saturday October 20th, 2007 (15:00:00)
Celtic must put their exit from the FA Cup from their memory as we travel to Redditch on Saturday for a league match (kick off 3pm). Redditch is a good place to go to get over the FA Cup hangover, for we have had a 100% record against them in recent years. They are currently seventeenth in the table, seven points and ten places behind Celtic having played one game less.

Redditch have not had the best of starts to the campaign, and have not won a match since August, when they beat Hucknall Town away. They have won one other match this season, at home to Tamworth. They have had five draws though, the most recent of which were their last two matches, a 1-1 away draw at Workington, and another 1-1 at home to Southport – both creditable draws. They have actually not lost at home this season, giving them a good home record. Celtic on the other hand have won two of their five away games, the first at Burscough and the last at Vauxhall Motors. Given our 100% record against them, and the relative form of the two teams, Celtic are favourites in the automated prediction algorithm, which is predicting a 4-1 result in Celtic's favour. Either our 100% record against Redditch, or Redditch's not lost at home record is going to give in this game.

Though we lost in the FA Cup, we have had just one loss in the last six games, and that was also against Workington.

Our last meeting with Redditch was last season when we beat them 3-2 at home, and our last trip to Redditch saw us come away 2-1 winners. Our best result against them was the season before when we beat them 5-1, and in the same season we recorded our best result at the Valley Stadium when we beat them 4-1.

Redditch's top scorer this season is Richard Ball, who has scored three times, though the last time he scored was in August. Simon Hollis is their most recent scorer netting a last minute penalty to secure a draw against Workington. They have scored nine goals (three of which came in their opening home match against Tamworth), and three of which have come in the last five minutes of the match. In the first half they have scored just three goals. This gives them an average opening goal of 54 minutes at home (68 overall), and an average goal per game ratio of 1.2 at home (0.8 overall). Their average time of first conceding is 59 minutes (41 overall), and they concede an average of 0.8 goals per game at home (1.6 overall). They have kept one clean sheet this season, at home to Nuneaton Borough in a 0-0 draw; whilst failing to score in five matches this season (only once at home). They have conceded eighteen goals this season, but only four at home.

Redditch won their last game 5-0, a Birmingham Senior Cup match against Stratford Town, though they crashed out of the FA Cup the Saturday before losing 3-1 to Kettering. In the Stratford Game, Redditch lost Downes and Simon Rea to injury, and though they had a Saturday off to recuperate, they will probably not figure on Saturday. Richard Anstiss stepped in to replace normal keeper Danny Lewis, who was rested.

In that match they lined up as:
1. Richard Anstiss
2. Jai Stanley
3. Exodus Geohaghon
4. Simon Rea
5. Damian Whitcombe
6. Chris Murphy
7. Lee Downes
8. Richard Softley
9. Paul Edwards
10. Richard Ball
11. Howard Forinton

Celtic lined up in the 5-0 defeat as:
1. Paddy Gamble
2. James Dudgeon
3. Simon Garner
4. Terry Barwick
5. Mark Haran
6. Paul Sykes
7. Lee Ellington
8. Ashley Winn
9. Chris Hall
10. Matty Barlow
11. Carlos Roca

Steve Payne had been scheduled to start, but had to pull out in the pre-match warm up due to injury. Andy Smart is Celtic's only other injury doubt, whilst Ashley Winn is suspended for an accumulation of cautions.

Celtic need to get back on track and focused for this match. It won't be easy, but it is definitely winnable. Whilst a win wouldn't raise us in the table, it could reduce the gap between us and the play-off spots.
Directions
Distance: 114
Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes

From the M67 join the M60 towards Stockport.
After 7 miles, leave the M60 at Junction 4 (Chester, M6) to join the M56 Stay on the M56 for 7 miles, coming off at junction 7 (Northwich, M6) to join the A556.
The roundabout can be avoided by using the slip road.
Stay on the A556 for 5 miles to the roundabout with the M6.
Join the M6 southbound (Birmingham) avoiding the roundabout by using the slip road.
Stay on the M6 for 60 miles to junction 8 with the M5.
Join the M5.
Stay on the M5 for 16 miles to junction 4a with the M42.
Join the M42.
Stay on the M42 for 5 miles to junction 2 (Birmingham South) with the A441.
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn right (exit 4 of 5) onto the A441.
After 2 miles you will reach a roundabout - continue straight (exit 1 of 3) to stay on the A441.
After a further 1 1/2 miles you will reach another roundabout - with a fire station on the right.
Turn almost back on yourself (exit 4 of 5) onto the B4184 (Windsor Road).
At the end of Windsor road (half a mile) there is a mini roundabout - turn left (exit 1 of 3 - signposted Hewel) onto Hewel Road.
Follow Windsor Road round, you will pass Colour Scope Carpets on your left and Redditch train station on your right.
Keep to the right to get onto Bromsgrove Road.
At the brow of the hill turn right onto Reds Drive (signposted Redditch United) by Hill View Surgery.
The car park is at the end of Reds Drive.