Celtic face Tamworth on Saturday in the FA Trophy, the only cup competition Celtic are still in. Tamworth are currently fourteenth in the table, six places and seven points behind Celtic, having played a game less.

Tamworth have won four times this season, with only a 2-1 win at Hyde giving them the full three points on the road. They have got three away draws, Southport being the most recent, though it wasn?t that long ago when Tamworth drew 0-0 at Bower Fold, indeed, it was just over a month ago! Their last match away from home was a 2-3 defeat at Harrogate Town, a game they lost despite scoring after just one minute and twelve seconds. Their last win was at home to Hinckley at the end of October.

The man who scored their second goal at Harrogate is Matthew Williams who is also Tamworth?s top scorer so far this season, with five goals in his last seven games. Tamworth have scored twenty-one this season, nine of which came away from home. They score an average of 1.1 goals per game away (1.3 overall) whilst conceding 1.6 goals per game away from home (1.4 overall). Despite scoring in under two minutes at Harrogate, on average they score their first goal at the forty-seven minute mark away (twenty-nine minutes overall), and concede at the fifty-four minute mark (fifty minutes overall). They have kept just one clean sheet on the road (against us!), and a further three at home. They have not scored in just two matches away this season (against us and against Boston). Their most dangerous period is the opening fifteen minutes, when they have scored eight times, whilst just after the hour mark is their most vulnerable period, when they have conceded eight.

The automated prediction algorithm has gone for a 3-2 win for Celtic this time around, if Celtic can continue their revival, this is not unrealistic.

Tamworth will be without inspirational goal keeper Jose Veiga, who is injured. In his place is Phil Palethorpe, on loan from Chester City. Also out injured are Adie Smith and Craig McAughtrie. Chris Nurse was sent off in Tamworth?s 3-2 win over Hyde United (at home) in the Setanta Shield, but his suspension does not kick in until the 27th, so he will be eligible to play.

In their last match, the 3-2 defeat away at Harrogate, Tamworth lined up as:
1. Phil Palethorpe
2. Des Lyttle
3. Dominic Langdon
4. Michael Briscoe
5. Rikki Bains
6. David Bampton
7. Jonti Richter
8. Chris Nurse
9. Anthony Robinson
10. Nick Wright
11. Matthew Williams

Mark Haran is once again available for selection, having served his ban, and Andy Smart is edging back to full fitness. However, in our last match, the 3-0 win over Boston United, Celtic lined up as:
1. Paddy Gamble
2. Ashley Woolliscroft
3. Simon Garner
4. Steve Payne
5. Barrie Keeling
6. Paul Sykes
7. Lee Ellington
8. Ashley Winn
9. James Dean
10. Matty Barlow
11. Alex Meechan

Celtic need to maintain a winning mentality and a good run in the Trophy would help confidence just ahead of some vital league games. Over the next few weekends, we play three of the teams above us in the league, and will need confidence and a winning mentality to keep us heading the right way up the league.