Preview: Preston North End vs. Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

PNE are now up to eighth place, within reach of the playoff places, while the visitors are in 21st, having been deducted six points for breaking the EFL's financial rules.

Match preview

Preston have been on a fantastic run of form since February, losing just one of their last 10 Championship games, and having originally been hampered by a tendency to draw too often, they have started to put a winning run together at the crucial stage of the season.

PNE have won four of their last five league games, including a 3-1 victory against rivals Blackpool at Deepdale at the beginning of the month, which was the perfect way to respond after losing 4-0 against Middlesbrough.

Courtesy of their recent run, Ryan Lowe's side have moved to within two points of the Championship top six, with six games to go in the season, although they have some tricky fixtures left to play, taking on second-placed Sheffield United in their last away match.

One thing that will need to improve in the latter stages of the season is Preston's home form, given that they have picked up just 24 points at Deepdale this season, only the 20th-best record in the division.

Last time out, however, PNE continued to impress on their travels, defeating Queens Park Rangers 2-0 away from home, with Thomas Cannon netting a second-half brace, and the forward has now scored five goals in his last five games.

Reading looked to be safe from relegation, however they have been plunged into real trouble after being deducted six points for breaking the EFL's financial rules, and they are now one point from safety.

Even prior to the points deduction, the Royals were struggling, and they are now winless in their last seven games, with goal-scoring becoming a real issue, scoring on just four occasions in that time period.

To make things even more difficult heading into Monday's game, Paul Ince's side have the worst away record of any side in the second tier, having picked up just 12 points from 20 games on their travels, last winning on the road at Hull City way back in November.

There have been minor signs of improvement for Reading, drawing their last three matches, playing out a 1-1 at home to Birmingham City last time out, after Andy Carroll's opening goal was cancelled out by Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Preston North End Championship form:

D

W

W

L

W

W

Reading Championship form:

L

L

L

D

D

D

Team News

Preston's Greg Cunningham has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury, so Andrew Hughes is likely to keep his place on the left of the defence, having started the last three games.

Ched Evans has developed a serious medical condition, which will rule him out for the foreseeable future, so Cannon is expected to continue in attack, given his fantastic recent form, partnering 21-year-old Troy Parrott.

Alan Browne was withdrawn due to an injury sustained in the first half against QPR, so Josh Onomah could come into central midfield for PNE.

Reading do not have any fresh injury concerns, but Junior Hoilett will continue to miss out with a muscle injury, while Abdul-Rahman Baba will not be available due to a leg problem.

Tom Ince has also been missing in recent weeks, as a result of an injury issue, which is a big blow considering he is the Royals' top scorer in the Championship this season, scoring nine goals, while also bagging four assists.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Whiteman, Potts, Onomah, Johnson, Brady; Cannon, Parrott

Reading possible starting lineup:

Lumley; Mbengue, Holmes, Sarr; Meite, Casadei, Hendrick, Fornah, Yiadom; Joao, Carroll

We say: Preston North End 2-0 Reading

Preston North End have been on a fantastic recent run of form, and although they have struggled at home for large parts of the campaign, the victory against rivals Blackpool in their last game here should be a morale-boosting result.

Not only that, but Reading have been very poor away from home all season, and we cannot see that changing against a side in playoff contention, with the likely result being a comfortable home win.

Previews by email