Match Preview :- Tamworth - Tuesday August 12th, 2008 (19:45:00)
Celtic?s next opposition is Tamworth on Tuesday, with a 7:45pm kick off. Tamworth drew their last game, 1-1 away at Droylsden, going ahead in the first half, and conceding midway through the second. This leaves Tamworth level on points with Celtic. If you are unable to make it to this match, there will be a live match centre for this match.

Tamworth have had a good pre-season, unbeaten in the matches they have played, though with only a Glasgow Rangers XI being notionally above them, gauging how their season will pan out from this is more arbitrary than the normal mix of above and below.

Last season, Tamworth finished fifteenth, twelve places and twenty-nine points behind Celtic, on fifty points. They finished the season poorly, not registering a win in their last six and only winning two in their last ten. They scored just two goals in the last six games, and conceded seven, earning three draws. Nick Wright, who scored against Droylsden on Saturday, was last season?s top scorer for Tamworth, banging in eleven goals, just one clear of his nearest rival Gareth Sheldon, both are still with the club.

We?ve only met Tamworth three times in the last twenty years, twice in the league last season, and once in the Trophy last season. Tamworth beat us 2-0 at their place, drew 0-0 at our place in the league, and beat us 2-0 at home in the Trophy. With so few games played there is no real data for the automated prediction algorithm to work on, and it has gone for a 0-0 draw (given both teams drew on the opening day).

In the match against Droylsden, Tamworth lined up as:
1. Will Puddy
2. Chris Smith
3. Dominic Langdon
4. Craig McAughtrie
5. Michael Wylde
6. Martin Foster
7. Nick Wright
8. Lee Hildreth
9. Gareth Sheldon
10. Alex Rodman
11. Bradley Pritchard

Celtic lined up in their 2-2 draw with the league favourites, Telford, as:
1. Paul Phillips
2. Ashley Woolliscroft
3. Danny Wood
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Terry Barwick
6. Paul Sykes
7. Steve Torpey
8. Keith Briggs
9. Lee Ellington
10. Nathan Joynes
11. Chris Williams

Celtic will definitely be without Andy Smart and Martin Pearson, with both recovering from injury (ankle and back, respectively). There is plenty of quality in the squad, and as was shown on Saturday to come from behind and nearly nick it at the end, plenty of determination. Tamworth should hold no fear.
Directions
Distance: 95
Time: 1 hour and 45 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 55 miles to Junction 11a (M6 Toll).
Join the M6 Toll, and stay on it for 15.
5 miles, to Junction T4 (Tamworth, A5).
After 5 miles, at the roundabout take exit 4 of 5 to join the A453 (Riverdrive).
Stay on the A453 over three roundabouts to a roundabout with the B5000 (signposted Glascote).
Take the second exit onto Glascote Road (B5000).
Almost immediately there is a second roundabout, go straight across (signposted Kettlebrook).
The ground is on the right.