Match Day Thread Preston North End v Reading Deepdale 29/12/2019

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LAST TIME OUT

LEEDS UNITED 1 PRESTON NORTH END 1

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READING 1 QPR 0

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A John Swift worldie won the points for the Royals althugh the home keeper appeared to have a blinder in the second half keeping their lead in tact improving side under Bowen

LAST SEASON

PRESTON NORTH END 2 READING 3

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A bit of a bogey side at the moment having won the last four meetings between the clubs, they won the reverse fixture 1-0 in the 98th minute in a game that rarely got above the dire level.
Suspect our efforts last night might have taken a bit out of us suspect a couple of changes good news is we now have a shed load of right backs given that Rafferty and Fisher have completed their unschedue holidays. Hopefully Bauer may have recovered from illness so there is no competition for the back four as well as other areas of the team.
The Royals have some decent players Swift and Meite, Ejaria caught the eye down there had some skill, not forgetting Puscas and Pele plus Poulton Le Fylde's finest Charlie Adam.
As it's the last home game of the year best wishes to all a Happy New Year

Match Officials: Reading Home

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Australian referee Jarred Gillett will take charge of his first Preston North End game in Sunday’s clash with Reading at Deepdale.

The Aussie joined the EFL lists last season, after taking up an educational position in Liverpool, but he has been a top class official in his home country’s A League for many years.

He took charge of his first Championship game at the end of last season and joined the Select Group Two list this season, when he has refereed 15 games, issuing 55 cautions and one red card.
This will be his first tip to Deepdale, but he has officiated at Reading already this season, their 2-0 home defeat to Charlton Athletic at the end of August.
His last game, on Boxing Day, was Wigan Athletic’s 1-1 home draw with Derby County, when former North Ender Joe Garner was on the scoresheet for the home side.

Jared will be assisted, in our final home game of 2019, by Shaun Hudson and Mark Russell, with Benjamin Speedie the fourth official.

 

Best wishes to you and yours Mac. I reckon Gallagher will play, having been spared LU's rough house. The inclusion of Bauer and Fisher will boost the back line. I believe Bodin is not back to his pre-injury fitness. The young lad from MU has a bit of class but needs game time. It is good that NE have a squad practically fully fit.

 

Preston North End 0 Reading 2 Swift, Joao

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

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

Referee: Jarred Gillett (Merseyside)

Attendance: 13,680 (557 away)

We started the year with a defeat at Rotherham and we end it with a defeat against Reading who for the third time this year take the points from us without conceding a goal, bit of coincidence with the defeats to the Millers and the Royals is that both came after great performances one against Villa at home and the other against Leeds last Thursday.
Reading won this one due to the experience of Charlie Adam and the skill of Jon Swift both were excellent until being substituted however in saying that we didn't exactly make it hard for them in midfield didn't exactly stick many tackles in.
We started well could have scored Potts effort being saved well by Cabral after a good team move featuring Harrop, Reading then finaly ventured into our half and scored twice within a couple of minutes. Adam wandered unchecked through midfield and the ball seemed to be going out although the Reading player seemed to have other ideas chased down a lost cause, few quick passes Swift bottom right 1 up Reading. Lo and behold Tyler Blackett did the same minutes later more pases arond the box Joao bottom right two up. Could have been three a shot from distance hit the post and the rebound was put in the flag saved us. A couple of other efforts went close.
We had 70% possession in the first half sideways backwards as Reading sat back and watched us fail to break them down, when we did get behind them we looked dangerous however our shooting was a bit Neil Shipperly.
Started well in the second period Bodin's shot was arrowing under the bar until Cabral tipped it over the top. Rudd bailed us out when Joao latched on a short headed back pass, we had chances Clarke at the back post his header could have gone anywhere Cabral saved with his legs also denied Maguire from close range. If those had gone in might have had a chance but Reading survived and apart from a Stockley effort right at the death we were effectively eased out of the game.
Credit to them they have sopme talented lads but having a experienced midfielder with Premiership experince won them the game.

 

reston North End manager Alex Neil said:

"The only difficulty that we had was that we couldn't score.

"I think if you look at the statistics and the way the game was played it was a smash and grab. They have come here and made themselves hard to beat.

"We probably created more chances today than any of the games that we have played at home."

Reading boss Mark Bowen said:

"I'm delighted, it's the fourth clean sheet in a row.

"It's the third win in a row, and the manner of it is good, coming to a really difficult place with the best defensive record in this league. I thought the goals we scored were through really slick, crisp passing.

"But these players are a group of players who are ready to work and push up this table."