Preston take on Reading in the Championship this weekend, and the mood around the Royals is becoming pretty unsavoury amid fan unrest.
North End have been outstanding away from home under Ryan Lowe, picking up wins at Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City and Peterborough United.
If there is one small negative from the start to Lowe’s time as Preston manager, it’s the lack of home wins.
Since beating Barnsley 2-1 in Lowe’s first game, Preston haven’t won at Deepdale. Nobody else has won there either, with four home draws in a row.
For Preston to gatecrash the top six, they need to start picking up home wins – and fans will be hopeful of a win over Reading this weekend.
That’s not to disrespect the Royals, but their situation in the Championship is looking pretty dire.
Their 0-0 draw with Peterborough United in midweek leaves them just two points clear of the relegation zone.
That’s now just three points in the last 11 games and no win since the 27th of November for Reading.
After winning six of their first 12 games, Reading have won just twice in the following 19 outings.
Boss Veljko Paunovic is under huge pressure and fans have quite simply had enough.
A video emerging from Wednesday’s game at Peterborough shows Reading fans surrounding the team coach whilst chanting ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’.
Anger is mounting in Berkshire with Reading currently on a path that may well lead them down to League One.
Preston have to be wary of a team pulling together when all the odds are against them, but with the feeling around Reading turning toxic, North End need to grab that elusive home win.