Reading Aim To Remove Preston From Play Off Race

By Hob Nob Anyone?

The tough games against teams at the top of the Championship continue to arrive at a fast rate for the Royals. Having secured a useful point at home to table toppers Newcastle United mid-week, this weekend Reading have a really good chance to effectively eliminate Preston North End from the play-off race. With 10 League games of the season remaining, Preston are 11 points behind the Royals in ninth place. A Reading victory would surely end any realistic chance Preston have of taking a play-off place from the Royals - and take Reading one huge step closer to a top six finish. However, as is always the way, a win for Preston would see Reading looking nervously at the chasing pack as they close the gap on sixth spot.

Jaap Stam's choice for starting eleven really is anyone's guess. It changes every week and he certainly doesn't like to be predictable with players out of position and those who'd you'd expect to be playing left out on the bench. Liam Moore has been excellent all season for Reading but will have to miss out after picking up a hamstring injury and limping off on Tuesday night. The arrival of Jordan Obita off the bench against Newcastle coincided with a strong finish to the game from Reading. Obita is clearly a better left back than Blackett - so the obvious choice is Blackett to move into the middle to replace the injured Moore and Obita to be recalled to the starting eleven on the left. However, Stam may have other plans.

Liam Kelly only managed the first half against Newcastle before being substituted. It appeared tactical but Stam hinted it was due to a hamstring issue. Either way he may find himself swapped out for the trip to Preston. Kelly is another player who has been excellent this season but wasn't his best against the Magpies on Tuesday.

Preston have only lost once in the League in their last seven games. That was a 1-3 reverse at Fulham who are rapidly closing in on Reading and the top six. Those last seven games may have only included 3 wins, but all of those have come at home. In the whole of 2017 Preston have only dropped two points at home over five league games and will be hoping to continue that run - and in doing so keep their season alive. Reading have only picked up one point from their last three away games - although that did include defeats at Huddersfield and Brighton. The last time the two sides met was on the opening day of the season when Preston were defeated 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium thanks to a debut goal from John Swift.

Recent Meetings With Preston North End

DATE	COMPETITION	OPPOSITION	SCORE	REPORT
06 August 2016	Championship	Preston (HOME)	W: 1-0	Read report...
30 April 2016	Championship	Preston (HOME)	L: 1-2	Read report...
12 December 2015	Championship	Preston (Away)	L: 0-1	Read report...
05 April 2011	Championship	Preston (HOME)	W: 2-1	Read report...
02 October 2010	Championship	Preston (Away)	D: 1-1	Read report...
02 May 2010	Championship	Preston (HOME)	W: 4-1	Read report...
29 September 2009	Championship	Preston (Away)	W: 2-1	Read report...
07 February 2009	Championship	Preston (HOME)	D: 0-0	Read report...
18 October 2008	Championship	Preston (Away)	L: 1-2	Read report...

View full archive of meetings between Reading and Preston North End

From the Discussion

SU Sutekh 9 Mar 2017 · 11:00am

http://www.logotypes101.com/logos/632/B7337A94C221229A29B8928BBD9505C5/preston_north_end_fc_2014__.png https://kit.genesissports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1024px-Reading_FC.svg_-300x300.png A trip to Preston beckons and another very difficult game is ahead. While their recent from is just 4 wins in their last 11 league games an additional 5 draws in that run would suggest they are also very difficult to beat. Their recent home form is also very useful with 6 league games played since they crashed 4-1 to Leeds on Boxing Day of which they've won 4 and drawn 2, including winning their last 3 games Preston have an issue at right…
GH glass half full 9 Mar 2017 · 3:17pm

http://www.logotypes101.com/logos/632/B7337A94C221229A29B8928BBD9505C5/preston_north_end_fc_2014__.png https://kit.genesissports.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1024px-Reading_FC.svg_-300x300.png A trip to Preston beckons and another very difficult game is ahead. While their recent from is just 4 wins in their last 11 league games an additional 5 draws in that run would suggest they are also very difficult to beat. Their recent home form is also very useful with 6 league games played since they crashed 4-1 to Leeds on Boxing Day of which they've won 4 and drawn 2, including winning their last 3 games Preston have an issue at right…
LO LoyalRoyal22 9 Mar 2017 · 4:56pm

Heard there will be a stream online for this?
IR Ian Royal 9 Mar 2017 · 5:09pm

If Moore's out, what would you expect the team to be... a switch back to three centrebacks to make up for it with JVDB and Blackett coming into it? Blackett as a direct replacement and Obita LB, or the dreaded JVDB partnering McShane and Blackett staying LB? I think I'd probably look at: .......................Al-Habsi ..Gunter, McShane, Blackett, Obita ............Williams, Berg, Kelly ...McCleary, Kermorgant, Beerens
14 10539.4 Miles Away 10 Mar 2017 · 3:08am

Heard there will be a stream online for this? Very likely to be streams, BeIN sports have picked it for their live game this week, god knows why but I'm not complaining!
GE genome 10 Mar 2017 · 10:05am

If Moore's out, what would you expect the team to be... a switch back to three centrebacks to make up for it with JVDB and Blackett coming into it? Blackett as a direct replacement and Obita LB, or the dreaded JVDB partnering McShane and Blackett staying LB? I think I'd probably look at: .......................Al-Habsi ..Gunter, McShane, Blackett, Obita ............Williams, Berg, Kelly ...McCleary, Kermorgant, Beerens Stick with how we set up after he went off in the Newcastle match. Looked very solid.
SU Sutekh 10 Mar 2017 · 4:04pm

Preston have none of their 4 right backs available due to injury so possibly may alter formation to 3 at the back to accommodate a suitable change. Midfielder John Welsh is also injured. Would suggest, therefore, that Beerens, or whoever Stam selects to play on the left, needs to really take the game to them down that side and get them very edgy and unsure - particularly early on in proceedings.
IR Ian Royal 10 Mar 2017 · 4:24pm

But that is exactly what they will expect us to do. If we actually spend the first 20 minutes passing 10 yarders between Habsi, McShane and Gunter deep on our right, which is exactly what we've already done 36 times this season, THAT'll be the last thing they expect and will shake them badly, into losing!!!!

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