Preston North End Vs Reading
Coca-Cola Championship Saturday 18th October KO 3PM
When Preston emerged from the last international break, their fortunes changed considerably for the worse. Alan Irvine will be hoping that the exact opposite occurs this time round and Preston return to winning ways after suffering four straight defeats.
However, as it is high-flying Reading who visit Deepdale next, it will not be as straight forward as that. The Royals are proving why they are one of the firm favourites to go up this season and make a quick return to the Premiership. Already Reading have recorded emphatic wins against the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea, not to mention a comfortable win against fellow promotion candidates Wolves meaning that North End will have to have the wits about them if they are to get anything from the match.
Unbeaten in their last five, Reading head North to Preston when they currently occupy third spot and are delicately poised to leapfrog Birmingham into pole position, should results go their way on Saturday.
Previous Meetings
When reading last visited Deepdale, in the 2005/2006 season, it was Leroy Lita who grabbed the headlines after running Preston ragged and netting a brace in the process. Former Burnley winger Glen Little added a third just after the hour mark to seal a comfortable win for the visitors.
Lita was in the thick of the action again when Preston visited the Madejski later that season. The former England under 21 international scored what turned out to be the winner in a 2-1 win for Reading.
Team News
There are no fresh injury concerns for Preston but one person who definitely won't be able to feature for Preston is Callum Davidson. The Scottish International will be out for a couple of more weeks with the knee injury that has kept him out for the majority of the season. And with Michael Hart still sidelined, Jay McEveley is widely expected to continue at left back with Eddie Nolan coming into the sixteen-man squad. Richard Chaplow is still ruled out with a hamstring issue meaning that Jason Jarrett could make his first start for Preston under Alan Irvine.
As for Saturday's visitors, Noel Hunt has signalled his intent to be fit in time as he looks to recover from concussion. However, centre half Michael Duberry is definitely out (calf), as is Sam Sodje (knee) and Marek Matejovsky (ankle) with Graeme Murty doubtful as he is still recovering from a calf injury.