Preston North End are looking for a fifth consecutive clean sheet and a seventh game without defeat in the Championship when Reading come to Deepdale on Saturday.
Match Information
Venue: Deepdale
Date: Saturday 19th February, 3pm kick-off
Competition: EFL Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 33/46)
Kit: Home kit – available to order here!
Supporter Information
With the feel-good factor back at Deepdale, ticket prices have been reduced across the stadium for this fixture, and supporters have until 6pm on Friday 18th February to take advantage of the offer before a return to normal matchday prices! Find full ticket details here.
Supporters, including season card holders, are also able to return to the Kop on Saturday as part of a trial, and fans are being encouraged to celebrate the occasion by taking part in ‘Flag Day’! Click here for more.
The fan zone will again be open from 12 noon for home supporters, with last orders before the game at 2.30pm, while it will reopen after the match with our usual offering of live music and refreshments, including Hot Potato Tram who are again joining us.
Match Coverage
Supporters worldwide will be able to listen to the game live on iFollow PNE with a £2.50 match pass or £4.49 monthly pass, while those overseas can watch live for £10. Click here to subscribe!
There will also be the usual match coverage across our social media channels, while live updates and post-match reaction can be found here on PNE.Com.
PNE Team News
Josh Murphy has returned to full training, but this game will come too soon for him, with manager Ryan Lowe hopeful of having the Cardiff City loanee in the fold for next weekend's trip to Coventry City.
Greg Cunningham, Sean Maguire and Tom Barkhuizen will also be unavailable through injury, with all three not expected to return until at least the end of February.
The Opposition
Reading arrive at Deepdale sat dangerously close to the drop zone, just two points above Peterborough United, having been hit with a six-point deduction earlier in the campaign.
Veljko Paunović's side had the perfect chance to extend that gap on Wednesday night when they faced Posh away from home, but they came away with just a point after a goalless draw.
Now with 15 games left of their season, they will be desperate to put a positive run of form together after what’s been a difficult period.
Key Stats
Reading come into this fixture without a victory in all competitions since November 2021, going winless in their last 12 matches.
A bright spark in their season has been former Chelsea attacking midfielder John Swift, who has played a direct part in 20 goals so far this term, and the 26-year-old has also scored four times in his career against PNE.
North End are looking for a fifth Championship clean sheet in a row for the first time since late 2015, when Simon Grayson's side kept six shut-outs in a row between October and November.
Our Last Victory
North End last came out on top against Reading in November 2020, scoring three second-half goals to earn a victory over the Royals who were flying high at the time.
After Daniel Johnson had seen his penalty saved, strikes from Scott Sinclair, Emil Riis and Brad Potts inflicted a first home league defeat of the 2020/21 season on Reading.
Man In The Middle
Referee John Busby is back at Deepdale on Saturday after taking charge of a PNE game for the first time in his career last month.
That was for the 2-2 draw against Bristol City, when Emil Riis’ last-gasp volley earned his side a late point.
So far this season, he’s refereed 26 matches, showing 98 yellow cards and four red cards.
Pre-Match Interviews
Ryan Expects His Side
To Look 'Fresh' Pat Hopes Clean Sheets
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