MATCHWATCH : Preston North End (a) sponsored by the first long trek of the season

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 19th August, 3pm
Where : Deepdale, Preston, PR1 6RU
Capacity : 23,404
Away Stand : Bill Shankly Kop
What might I see in the area : Dourness

Thankfully, in my opinion, this awkward sod of an away trip is early in the season this time round. Never seem to do well up in this part of Lancashire at any time and that stretches all the way back to the record 18-0 stuffing on Reading's first ever visit in the 1890s.

Like Reading Preston have managed 4 points from their 3 games so far and are on a run of 1 straight defeat (going down1-0 to a Vydra penalty at Derby on Tuesday). Reading though are on a run of 1 straight win so it's fairly obvious what the outcome should be in this game - especially when you take into account Reading's excellent opening day showing at QPR.

Preston have an issue on the fitness of left back Greg Cunningham (who is also subject of a million pound bid from Cardiff currently) but it seems likely he will be fit enough to play, in addition Preston will welcome back Ben Pearson after suspension.

Reading have got McCleary and Beerens back (I'd expect both to be on the bench as they look to regain full fitness) but are without a standard catalogue of players that seems to plague the club for every fixture so no Obita, Kermorgant, Bodvarsson etc. Think I would expect Bacuna to make his debut for the club but who Stam would choose to omit is anyone's guess but then much of his starting line up is always anyone's guess anyway!

Referee

West Yorkshire's Andrew Madley will be once again overseeing Reading's fortunes



Previously

1. 04 Mar 2017 > Reading 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
2. 17 Aug 2016 > Newcastle United 4-1 Reading
3. 07 May 2016 > Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Reading
4. 03 Dec 2015 > Reading 0-1 Queen's Park Rangers
5. 29 Aug 2015 > Brentford 1-3 Reading
6. 25 Apr 2015 > Reading 0-2 Brentford
7. 15 Jan 2015 > Milwall 0-0 Reading
8. 05 Apr 2014 > Charlton Athletic 0-1 Reading
9. 25 Jan 2014 > Ipswich Town 2-0 Reading

Historically

It took 9 visits to Deepdale to get a first win and there have only been 4 for Reading in the total 26 league games played there to date. In that time Preston have managed 17 home victories very much setting a low expectation for Reading in this fixture. Also it's the first time Reading will have played a team managed by Alex Neil away from home since a certain trip to Norwich last season.

So all to play for then.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to Deepdale
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use an iFollow subscription (presuming you can get the commentary working at all)
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
6. BBC Radio Lancashire (FM : 95.5, 103.9, 104.5; MW : 855, 1557 depending where you are in the area)

[Hound]

Preston seems to be one of those places that we show our true soft southern side to, and generally get a good sound beating from our dour northern friends

At least this time it shouldn't be too cold, miserable and wet so we may at least have some sort of chance

Not a bad club though Preston, have a bit of time for them. Happy to see them do well after this weekend

[Snowball]

Our performance at Deepdale could be very indicative of the season to come.

Against QPR we were pretty dire but showed a big step up
against Fulham and should have grabbed the win.

But Tuesday's demolition of Villa was another step up and very promising

If we can get a really good result at Preston I will be seriously optimistic
but revert to one of our soft away performances and I'll be worried

I fancy us for a win to nil.

[windermereROYAL]

3-0 Preston

Yesss you predicted a villa 3-0 too. GTFI

[John Smith]

We're gonna smash them. 1-3 to the boys in orange

[K.URZ13]

Preston 0 Reading 4 . (Bacuna x 2 Barrow x 2)

We abandon the home kit and play exclusively in orange forever after

[maffff]

Don't change a winning team.

[maffff]

Unless we need to play a different style.

[cornflake]

Preston 1 - Reading 2

Come on URZZZZ

[Snowflake Royal]

Our performance at Deepdale could be very indicative of the season to come.

Against QPR we were pretty dire but showed a big step up
against Fulham and should have grabbed the win.

But Tuesday's demolition of Villa was another step up and very promising

If we can get a really good result at Preston I will be seriously optimistic
but revert to one of our soft away performances and I'll be worried

I fancy us for a win to nil.

This. It's early days, but it'll be a big sign of whether we're going repeat last season's shit on the road, solid at home or whether we'll take the next step and stop showing our soft side away.

I'm hopeful of no defeat, but feel confident we'll concede with at least one sloppy error.

[Royality creeps In]

I have a horrible feeling that the optimism generated after Tuesday will come flying back to earth with a rather large bump!
We are Reading after all. Its what we do.

[Nuremberg Royal]

Preston very impressive in their own back yard.
Agreed if Reading get something out of this (and ill take a good performance to start with) then its a significant improvement on last year.
It will also be a nice sign for any wavering forwards who were thinking of coming to Reading before the window closes.

1-1 (Swift 25 mins)

[Gunny Fishcake]

Been three times and seen us thumped three times, would be ecstatic with a draw , 0-0 will do

[Gav]

Our performance at Deepdale could be very indicative of the season to come.

Weirdly, for me, it was the 3-0 at Deepdale that made me sit up and think - "hang on a second, something special is stirring here" - in the 106 season. As others have mentioned, it's just not the kind of place we tend to roll up at and turn them over.

The next game was Millwall at home I believe with that Convey goal... <3 incidentally, has there been any updates on his condition?

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I'm sure I saw one of our few wins there - when they had a synthetic pitch and Gilksey scorted a late winner.

[72 bus]

BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 is also available anywhere via your smartphone, so no need for an iFollow account

[Stockport Royal]

Pumped to get meself a Butter Pie!

Very happy McGeady has gone, he tore us a new one last year.

[Hound]

Looks like typically shite northern weather for the game. Rain and wind whilst reading basks in sunshine

Think that may even help out style though. Reckon we'll go with the same front 3 as Villa - Rowatt said on sky that Derby went with mobility up front against them, so think Stam will do the same

Heart ruling head - going for a 2-0 win. Swift and Popa

[Jackson Corner]

Hate this fixture long trip empty stadium always lose. Be happy with a 1-1

[Sutekh]

BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 is also available anywhere via your smartphone, so no need for an iFollow account

Including game commentary?