https://www.pnefc.net/news/2020/november/reading-vs-preston-north-end-match-preview/ Preston North End will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season on the road when they head to league leaders Reading on Wednesday night. please log in to view this image First Team News Watch PNE Take On Reading Exclusively On iFollow 5 Hours ago The Royals have had an impressive start to the season, winning seven of their first nine games and only losing for the first time at Coventry City on Friday night. The appointment of Veljko Paunovic as manager in the summer has so far proved to be a masterstroke and he has found a formula that has worked for a talented and expensively assembled squad at the Madejski Stadium. For the Lilywhites, they have won their last three away games and will look for another three points at a venue that hasn’t always been their happiest hunting ground, but will look to continue their run away from Deepdale. Match Information Competition: EFL Sky Bet Championship (10/46) Date: Wednesday 4th November, kick-off 7pm Venue: Madejski Stadium Kit: 2020/21 third ‘green’ kit – click here to buy it now! Head To Head: PNE wins – 24; Draws – 12; Reading - 25 Team News Manager Alex Neil will again wait until last minute before checking on the availability of the two Ben’s, Pearson and Davies, who have missed the last four games. Andrew Hughes, Declan Rudd and Darnell Fisher will all also need to be assessed, having all had difficulties in the weekend’s clash with Birmingham City. Reading boss Veljko Paunovic looks like he could be without Liam Moore, stating after their loss to Coventry, that the defender would see a specialist in the coming days to assess the seriousness of his injury. please log in to view this image Match Officials For Wednesday evening’s away game, we have a referee for the second time this season. The match official for the trip to the Madejski Stadium is John Brooks, now in his third season on the Select Group Two list of referees. The Leicestershire ref was in charge of North End’s 3-2 home win over Millwall in December 2018 and the 3-1 home victory over Stoke City in front of the Sky Sports cameras back in August 2019, as well as the New Year’s Day clash with Middlesbrough in PR1 and the first game after lockdown, at Luton Town back in June. Last season, in the month before the pausing of the Championship, he also refereed the Lilywhites’ victory over Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium, when Tom Barkhuizen and Alan Browne were the scorers. So far this season he has officiated nine games issuing 24 yellow cards and no reds; he will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh and Akil Howson – who also ran the line at Norwich when he refereed the game - whilst the fourth official will be Mark Russell. Match Coverage North End fans can watch Wednesday’s game live on iFollow PNE, with purchases of a £10 match pass available now. Guy Clarke and former North End defender Paul Sparrow are on commentary duties, with replays, graphics and coverage from the Madejski Stadium from 2.45pm on Wednesday evening. Click here now to sign up for a match pass Linked Stories Alex Neil On ‘Clinical’ Royals: Preston North End manager Alex Neil feels that Reading have found a good balance this season after their impressive start to the 2020/21 season. Click here for the full interview. A Match To Remember: We go back 16 years for our latest look back at a clash with our next opponents, as the Lilywhites headed to the Madejski Stadium in the FA Cup. Click here for the details. Gally On Coaching Role And Reading Challenge: Preston North End midfielder Paul Gallagher took on a different role last week, joining manager Alex Neil and Steve Thompson in the dugout, with Frankie McAvoy isolating. Click here for Gally’s thoughts.
It is an odd scenario think a lot of it does actually go back to zero crowds 23 home defeats 1 draw away and 22 wins could rue those dropped points at Norwich first away game
Reading suffered a second consecutive defeat as Preston North End inflicted a first home league loss of the campaign on the Championship's early-season leaders. The Royals remain three points clear at the top of the second tier, but lacked the clinical quality in the final third against North End that had seen them win seven of their first eight games. Scott Sinclair poked home the opening goal after half-time and Emil Riis Jakobsen raced on to a long ball to double the lead. Brad Potts added a late third for Preston after a quick counter-attack and an unselfish square ball from Tom Barkhuizen. Relive Wednesday's action as it happened Preston's impressive win followed two consecutive home losses, but extended their superb away form. North End have now won four straight games on their travels, in stark contrast to their dismal record at Deepdale, where they have lost every match so far this term. The Lancashire club produced another textbook away performance, looking well-organised in defence and breaking with great impetus on the counter. The Royals struggled to cause major problems for the visitors' keeper Declan Rudd, as Veljko Paunovic's side fired a blank after scoring nine times in their previous three matches. Reading head coach Veljko Paunovic: "I'm not disappointed but I feel the pain. When you lose a game, you have to absorb it. That's what I told the players. "You have to quickly bounce back and convert the pain into a positive energy for the next game. "The next game is all we have. If we lose or we win, we say - next day, next game. "We have to acknowledge that we weren't at our best today. Preston boss Alex Neil: "This seems to be quite common for us on the road. We've been excellent on the road. "First of all, I'm delighted with the win. But I'm still a bit perplexed at how poor we've been at home in comparison to being away. "But we'll enjoy tonight. We needed a good response from the players after the last two games, which have been tough for us at home. "The one thing that we have never lacked is spirit, endeavour and effort. And tonight I thought that we added a bit of quality to that." please log in to view this image
Congratulations on an outstanding away win. Seems you guys are suffering along with a few others with "empty home stadium syndrome". The theory being that away grounds are alien anyway but empty home grounds are unexpectedly alien thus affecting performances. I'm not a psychologist but it sounds plausible, Anyway, I dare say you'll get that home victory very soon. Hope you're all well and keeping safe.
Cheers fella, looks like cases in our area have peaked sliding down the Covid league table however places like Blackburn and Oldham still struggling, you are right about no fans syndrome, get through it though
Not totally convinced by the 'no fans syndrome'. NE players should have got used to empty Deepdale by now. The loss of key players like Pearson and the uncertainty around others may contribute.