18-02-2022, 09:08
PNE Team News
Josh Murphy has returned to full training, but this game will come too soon for him, with manager Ryan Lowe hopeful of having the Cardiff City loanee in the fold for next weekend's trip to Coventry City.
Greg Cunningham, Sean Maguire and Tom Barkhuizen will also be unavailable through injury, with all three not expected to return until at least the end of February.
The Opposition
Reading arrive at Deepdale sat dangerously close to the drop zone, just two points above Peterborough United, having been hit with a six-point deduction earlier in the campaign.
Veljko Paunović's side had the perfect chance to extend that gap on Wednesday night when they faced Posh away from home, but they came away with just a point after a goalless draw.
Now with 15 games left of their season, they will be desperate to put a positive run of form together after what’s been a difficult period.
Key Stats
Reading come into this fixture without a victory in all competitions since November 2021, going winless in their last 12 matches.
A bright spark in their season has been former Chelsea attacking midfielder John Swift, who has played a direct part in 20 goals so far this term, and the 26-year-old has also scored four times in his career against PNE.
North End are looking for a fifth Championship clean sheet in a row for the first time since late 2015, when Simon Grayson's side kept six shut-outs in a row between October and November.
Our Last Victory
North End last came out on top against Reading in November 2020, scoring three second-half goals to earn a victory over the Royals who were flying high at the time.
After Daniel Johnson had seen his penalty saved, strikes from Scott Sinclair, Emil Riis and Brad Potts inflicted a first home league defeat of the 2020/21 season on Reading.
Man In The Middle
Referee John Busby is back at Deepdale on Saturday after taking charge of a PNE game for the first time in his career last month.
That was for the 2-2 draw against Bristol City, when Emil Riis’ last-gasp volley earned his side a late point.
So far this season, he’s refereed 26 matches, showing 98 yellow cards and four red cards.
https://www.royals.org/forum/index.php
MACS VIEW
Time for a home win a rare beast this season the last was the middle of December, who better to play than a club in crisis welcome to Reading who are on one f those hapless runs of failure. Unhappiness on and off the pitch, the fans want the manager sacked, as do some of the players apparently, docked six points for not living within their means as may seven Championship clubs next season.
Players out of contract at the end of the season, just the right type of opposition for a beating. But, our record against them in recent seasons is poor and a side that has the likes of Joao, Meite and Swift who in my book is one of the best midfielders in the country are not to be taken lightly. The Kop is open for home fans things are positive at Deepdale at the moment but we need to start winning home games
Josh Murphy has returned to full training, but this game will come too soon for him, with manager Ryan Lowe hopeful of having the Cardiff City loanee in the fold for next weekend's trip to Coventry City.
Greg Cunningham, Sean Maguire and Tom Barkhuizen will also be unavailable through injury, with all three not expected to return until at least the end of February.
The Opposition
Reading arrive at Deepdale sat dangerously close to the drop zone, just two points above Peterborough United, having been hit with a six-point deduction earlier in the campaign.
Veljko Paunović's side had the perfect chance to extend that gap on Wednesday night when they faced Posh away from home, but they came away with just a point after a goalless draw.
Now with 15 games left of their season, they will be desperate to put a positive run of form together after what’s been a difficult period.
Key Stats
Reading come into this fixture without a victory in all competitions since November 2021, going winless in their last 12 matches.
A bright spark in their season has been former Chelsea attacking midfielder John Swift, who has played a direct part in 20 goals so far this term, and the 26-year-old has also scored four times in his career against PNE.
North End are looking for a fifth Championship clean sheet in a row for the first time since late 2015, when Simon Grayson's side kept six shut-outs in a row between October and November.
Our Last Victory
North End last came out on top against Reading in November 2020, scoring three second-half goals to earn a victory over the Royals who were flying high at the time.
After Daniel Johnson had seen his penalty saved, strikes from Scott Sinclair, Emil Riis and Brad Potts inflicted a first home league defeat of the 2020/21 season on Reading.
Man In The Middle
Referee John Busby is back at Deepdale on Saturday after taking charge of a PNE game for the first time in his career last month.
That was for the 2-2 draw against Bristol City, when Emil Riis’ last-gasp volley earned his side a late point.
So far this season, he’s refereed 26 matches, showing 98 yellow cards and four red cards.
https://www.royals.org/forum/index.php
MACS VIEW
Time for a home win a rare beast this season the last was the middle of December, who better to play than a club in crisis welcome to Reading who are on one f those hapless runs of failure. Unhappiness on and off the pitch, the fans want the manager sacked, as do some of the players apparently, docked six points for not living within their means as may seven Championship clubs next season.
Players out of contract at the end of the season, just the right type of opposition for a beating. But, our record against them in recent seasons is poor and a side that has the likes of Joao, Meite and Swift who in my book is one of the best midfielders in the country are not to be taken lightly. The Kop is open for home fans things are positive at Deepdale at the moment but we need to start winning home games
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?