10 March 2017
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.
| 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... |
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