Posh open their Sky Bet League One account at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Peterborough United begin the Sky Bet League One campaign at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm) at Reading with Darren Ferguson’s men coming up against a side that have endured several challenges during the summer, which has included a change in manager with Ruben Selles now in the dugout.
The Royals results in pre-season have been expected given the availability of players but they have received clearance for a couple of their new signings and they are still stacked with plenty of Championship experience in their ranks.
Posh go into the opening day fixture on the back of a 3-2 victory over Birmingham City in their final pre-season friendly with Ferguson’s men racing into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 13 minutes at the Weston Homes Stadium.
TEAM NEWS
Defender Emmanuel Fernandez missed Thursday’s training session with a sickness bug, but he is the only selection worry ahead of the game with fellow centre back Josh Knight available after a proposed move away from the club earlier in the week fell through at the last moment.
Midfielders Lewis Wing and Charlie Savage are expected to be available for the Royals after their latest transfer embargo was lifted. Wing has been a standout performer in League One for Wycombe Wanderers, while Savage enjoyed first team experience during a loan spell at Forest Green Rovers last term. He left parent club Manchester United in the summer to join Reading.
ONE TO WATCH
Andy Carroll (pictured below) might not have featured with any regularity during pre-season, but he is still a very powerful operator, particularly at this level. The towering front man provides plenty of physicality and will be a threat from set-pieces. Carroll made his name at Newcastle United and has had spells at Liverpool and West Ham United during his career.
FROM THE MANAGER
“You always get that excitement ahead of the opening day of the season and this year is no different. We are all looking forward to it. Reading will be a tough game, I know they have had issues during the summer, which have been well documented, but they still have a lot of good players. It is about our performance, we need to go there and get the performance level right,” Darren Ferguson said.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
There have been a host of players that have played for both clubs in their career- the most notable of which was Mick Gooding (pictured), who played with distinction for both clubs. Striker Jimmy Quinn is another that was a firm fans favourite at both clubs he represented.
Among the others to have played for both Posh and Reading include; Marcus Williams, Steve Morrow, Mark McKeever, Robert Codnor, Simon Moore, Darren Caskey and Keith Bremner.
Mick Gooding pictured signing for Posh with Noel Cantwell.
HEAD TO HEAD
Nathan Thompson (pictured below) was on target in a 3-1 defeat for Posh at Reading in the last meeting between the two sides at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Posh have not won away at Reading since 1976.
POSH+
Posh+ subscribers can listen to full-match commentary of the game via Chris Dowsett and Nilesh Patel. Non-subscribers can purchase an audio pass for £5, but it makes sense to buy an annual or monthly pass as it provides excellent value for money.
Overseas supporters can purchase a match pass for £10. Full packages can be found by clicking here.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The match referee is Simon Mather.