Another Game - Another Must Win

29 March 2019
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading face Preston North End at the Madejski Stadium this weekend knowing only a victory will do as they attempt to avoid relegation. Every game is vital now, with just eight games of the season remaining and the Royals just a single point out of the bottom three. With a difficult run in to the end of the season, a home match against Preston might even be considered one of our better chances of picking up three points despite the visitors sitting in 7th place and only outside the play-off places on goal difference. Preston have won four out of their last five league games and will be favourites for the win.

The Royals also have to play top of the table Norwich City away, 4th placed West Brom at home, and 5th placed Middlesbrough away. Our other home games are Brentford and Birmingham City on the final day of the season. With Birmingham City now just four points ahead of Reading after their nine point deduction it's possible that final game could have implications for both sides. Apart from the game against Birmingham all our remaining fixtures are now against sides in the top thirteen places in the table. It's difficult to see where all the points are going to come from to enable us to survive the drop.

Midfielder Andy Rinomhota is likely to still be missing from the starting eleven, but could make the bench, as he returns to training this week after missing most of the season so far injured. Sam Baldock, who scored for Reading against Preston back in September, is in a similar situation as he looks to return from injury but may not be quite ready for the visit of Preston. Nelson Oliveira remains out with his hamstring injury but is looking to take part in Reading's relegation battle before the season wraps up.

Last season Reading were 1-0 winners over Preston at the Madejski Stadium and earlier this season we were 3-2 winners on the road. That 3-2 win was our first league win of the season and Reading will have a rare chance to pick up six points off one team this season on Saturday afternoon.

Reading's Remaining Fixtures

• Sat 30 March: Preston North End (Home)
• Sat 6 April: Hull City (Away)
• Wed 10 April: Norwich City (Away)
• Sat 13 April: Brentford (Home)
• Fri 19 April: Bristol City (Away)
• Mon 22 April: West Brom (Home)
• Sat 27 April: Middlesbrough (Away)
• Sun 5 May: Birmingham City (Home)

Championship COMBINED FORM Table at: 26 March 2019
POS.		Pl	W	D	L	F	A	GD	POINTS	LAST 6 GAMES
4	Preston North End	6	4	2	0	8	3	+5	14	DWDWWW
12	READING	6	2	2	2	6	11	-5	8	LDWWLD

Championship Table at: 26 March 2019
POS		Pl	HW	HD	HL	HF	HA	AW	AD	AL	AF	AA	GD	POINTS
7	Preston North End	38	7	9	3	34	24	8	3	8	24	26	+8	57
21	READING	38	6	4	9	25	29	2	9	8	15	27	-16	37

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