Preston are back in action this evening, as they travel to the Madejski Stadium to take on Reading.
The trip to Berkshire hasn’t been a happy one in recent times, as Reading have won their last four home games against Preston.
The Royals sit top of the Championship table with just one defeat this season, which came on Friday as they were beaten by Coventry City.
North End will now hope to follow suit, and some strong away form gives Alex Neil hope of a shock result – even after the 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday.
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With that in mind, here’s our predicted Preston line-up for tonight’s game…
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Declan Rudd picked up a knock against Birmingham on Saturday, but it seems likely that he will be fit to start at the Madejski Stadium tonight.
Reading fans are projecting a 4-2-3-1 system, so we’ll assume that Neil matches up, starting with a centre back pairing of Patrick Bauer and Jordan Storey.
Darnell Fisher’s substitution on Saturday was only due to cramp, so he should be okay to start at right back, whilst Josh Earl could come in at left back after Andrew Hughes suffered an injury on Saturday.
Ryan Ledson will surely come back into the side in midfield, with support from Alan Browne – but his difficulties progressing the ball against Millwall may just tempt Neil into switching Daniel Johnson into a deep role and Browne to the 10.
Brad Potts is one of Neil’s most trusted players away from home, so seeing him start on the right flank wouldn’t be a shock, whilst Scott Sinclair should feature on the left.
Jayden Stockley may have scored against Birmingham, but we’re backing Emil Riis to come back in from the start after being on the bench against Birmingham, with his mobility potentially key.
We would then back Connor Ripley, Paul Huntington, Joe Rafferty, Josh Harrop, Seani Maguire, Tom Barkhuizen and Jayden Stockley to be on the bench.
