Preston North End v Reading Match Preview

27 December 2019

It’s the final game of the decade at Deepdale, as the Lilywhites look to sign off with another home win when Mark Bowen brings his Reading side to Lancashire on Sunday.

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Reading Home

27 December 2019

The Royals pinched the points seven minutes into stoppage time down at the Madejski Stadium back in Bowen’s first game in charge, in October, in a game that didn’t have a lot between the sides.

The visitors picked up back-to-back wins and their third consecutive clean sheet with a Boxing Day success against Queens Park Rangers at home, while PNE extended their unbeaten run to four games with the impressive point at Elland Road.

PNE boss Alex Neil could have three defenders back; with Joe Rafferty and Darnell Fisher definitely back from suspension and centre half Patrick Bauer hopefully available again after illness kept hiom out of Thursday’s clash with Leeds.

A bumper home crowd it expected for the festive fixture, so fans are advised to arrive early if they are still to buy a ticket, although the easiest way to avoid the queues is to load to your member card or print at home, which is available. Remember, this is also the first game where half season cards can be used, which will remain on sale until kick-off.

For Your Information
Match Details: PNE v Reading, Deepdale, Sunday 29th December 2019, kick-off 3pm
Competition: EFL Championship (25/46)
PNE colours: Home kit, goalkeeper in green
Click here to buy a ticket

Here’s all the coverage accessible on PNE.Com in preview of the game…

Ticket Information: For our final game of 2019, we welcome Mark Bowen’s Reading to Deepdale on Sunday afternoon. Click here for more information.

Match Officials: Australian referee Jarred Gillett will take charge of his first Preston North End game in Sunday’s clash with Reading at Deepdale. Click here for details of all the officials.

We’ve Met Before: It will be the 29th league meeting between Preston North End and Reading at Deepdale this Sunday, with the Lilywhites looking to record their 23rd win in the overall head-to-head. Click here for more details of past battles.

How To Follow The Game: If you can’t make it to Deepdale for this Sunday’s clash with Reading, don’t worry, we will have full coverage on PNE.Com and iFollow PNE. Click here for details of how you can follow the match.

The One And Only Issue 15: Patrick Bauer has been earning rave reviews from the PNE fans – some asking fellow supporters to name ‘a better free transfer’ and he will be hoping to be back from illness for this final game of 2019. Click here for details of this weekend’s programme.

Team News: Preston North End manager Alex Neil will have at least two defenders available for selection again for the visit of Mark Bowen’s Reading. Click here for details of the options.

Alex Neil Admits Physicality Will Be Important: Preston North End manager Alex Neil says that he will think about squad fitness as much as he thinks about tactics ahead of the clash with Reading. Click here for the manager’s full interview.

Ben Davies Says Team Will Be Even More Switched On: Preston North End defender Ben Davies returned to the side at Elland Road on Thursday evening after a spell on the sidelines. Click here for more from Ben.

Match Reports

Preston North End 0 Reading 2

29 December 2019

Two breakaway goals inside the first 20 minutes were enough to give the visitors the points, despite the Lilywhites dominating possession at Deepdale.

John Swift and Lucas Joao grabbed the goals, within four minutes of each other, for Mark Bowen’s Reading and despite 20 shots on goal, Alex Neil’s side were unable to get back into the game.

Two changes had been made to the side that drew with Leeds United on Boxing Day with Billy Bodin and Josh Harrop replacing Tom Barkhuizen and the injured David Nugent.

And the two additions to the starting XI combined to almost see their side ahead in the eighth minute. Bodin found the ball in the middle of the Royals half and freed Harrop who ran on towards the penalty area before sliding in Brad Potts into space in the right side of the box.

The No.44 fired goalwards hard and low, but visiting keeper Rafael made the first of what was to be multiple fine saves, his back leg keeping out the effort.

But the visitors went in front on 12 minutes as Charlie Adam found Tyler Blackett on the overlap down the left and he pulled the ball back to Swift, who fired home from 12 yards.

And it was two just four minutes later as another Blackett run from deep went right down the middle of the PNE defence, before feeding Joao in the left corner of the box, who fired into the bottom right-hand corner.

North End returned to their dominance in the game with a Bodin shot deflected wide for a corner after a Harrop lay-off mid-way through the half, but they were almost caught out with a third, Joao adjudged to have been offside when Meite’s long-distance strike hit the left post.

However, that was the last real chance for Reading in the game and it came just after the half hour mark!

The home side came out after the break and continued to dominate possession and chances. Rafael pulled off an unbelievable stop less that three minutes in, tipping a 30 yard curling effort from Bodin around the post for a corner, with the ball arrowing towards the top left corner.

Just after the hour mark Ben Pearson broke into the penalty area and found Sean Maguire, whose shot was blocked by Liam Moore, before moments later Rafael somehow made a stop with his backside when it looked by a diving Tom Clarke header from Andrew Hughes’ left-wing cross had squirmed underneath him.

The Royals keeper made yet another stop as the game entered the final five minutes, Maguire’s back post header from substitute Paul Gallagher’s cross on target yet again until the No.33 got in the way.

The Irishman knew he was not getting any luck in the third minute of stoppage time, as his goal-bound shot from Tom Barkhuizen’s pull back came off the face of Liam Moore and went behind for a corner, from which Jayden Stockley headed an inch wide from Ben Davies’ ball into the box, the visitors holding on to record the win.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke (c) (Stockley, 69), Hughes, Pearson, Huntington, Davies, Bodin, Browne, Maguire, Potts (Gallagher, 60), Harrop (Barkhuizen, 60). Subs not used: Ripley, Fisher, Bayliss, Ledson.

Reading line-up: Cabral, Gunter, Morrison, Moore (c), Swift (McCleary, 74), Ejaria, Meite (Obita, 83), Blackett, Adam (Rinomhota, 65), Pele, Joao. Subs not used: Walker, Miazga, Boye, Olise.

Attendance: 13,680 (557 Reading fans)

Referee: Mr J Gillett

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Reading Home

27 December 2019

For our final game of 2019, we welcome Mark Bowen’s Reading to Deepdale on Sunday afternoon.

First Team News

Match Officials: Reading Home

27 December 2019

Normal matchday prices apply for this game and you can click here for a full run down of the prices and concession categories on offer for league games at Deepdale.

Tickets are now on general sale from the ticket office at Deepdale, either to be loaded to your member card or via a paper ticket. For more information on member cards and their usage, click here.

This season we are also offering print at home tickets, so you can buy online and print our your ticket without needing to collect on the day, click here for more information.

For those still turning up and buying on the day, purchases can be made in person at both the Sir Tom Finney ticket office and also use the Invincibles Pavilion ticket office, which can be used to buy tickets for any part of the ground, not just the Pavilion. The Sir Tom Finney ticket office is open from 9am on a matchday and the Invincibles Pavilion ticket office is open from 1pm.

Tickets can be purchased at Deepdale from 9am until 5pm on Friday, 9am until 5pm on Saturday, from 9am until kick-off on the day of the game, both in person and over the ticket hotline – 0344 856 1966.

First Team News

We've Met Before: Reading Home

27 December 2019

Paper and print at home tickets can be purchased online at MyPNE.Com 24/7 right up until two hours before kick-off, with collections available from the Sir Tom Finney Stand collections windows, to the left of the ticket office. The online service is now fully responsive on both mobile and tablet. Or, if you have a member card, you can buy right up until kick-off on MyPNE.Com and load your ticket straight to your card!

For Royals fans, tickets are available on the day, there will be no increases for matchday purchases and tickets are available for visiting supporters from the away ticket office next to the Bill Shankly Kop on Lowthorpe Road, with cash and card payments accepted, which will open from 1.30pm.

For home fans travelling to the game, the Leyland shuttle bus will be in operation, pick up points and times are as follows: 1.20pm, Leyland Tesco; 1.30pm, Railway Pub Leyland; 1.40pm, Beam and Brycg Pub Bamber Bridge; arrive Deepdale, 2.10pm. Tickets are £3 for a single or £4 return.

Standings

Ticket Information: Reading Home

Match Officials: Reading Home

We've Met Before: Reading Home

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