Reading v Portsmouth preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
Portsmouth continue their pre-season as they face League One outfit Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
John Mousinho’s side have won all three of their matches so far and will look to take that momentum into the Championship season.
Pompey beat Crawley Town 1-0 in their last encounter, with John Swift making his first appearance since signing on a free transfer.
Below, Pompey News previews the clash with the Royals, including team news, lineups, and the result.
Form Guide (All competitions)
Reading: WWL
Portsmouth: WWW
Team news
Callum Lang returned to Portsmouth training, and Mousinho will be keen to give him minutes even if he cannot play a full 90.
Ibane Bowat could feature in some form, having returned to training, but he has experienced knee discomfort in pre-season.
Elsewhere, Jacob Farrell is still recovering from a leg injury and is unlikely to be available against Reading.
The Royals should provide a stern test, meaning Mousinho will likely field a strong starting 11, with Havant & Waterlooville representing a weaker opponent three days later.
Predicted lineups
Reading: Pereira, Abrefa, Dorsett, Savage, Garcia, Wing, Burns, O’Mahony, Sackey, Azeez, Smith
Portsmouth: Schmid, Ogilvie, Matthews, Shaughnessy, Williams, Swift, Kosznovszky, Segecic, Lang, Murphy, Bishop
Lang has been linked with a Portsmouth exit after the South Coast received a bid of around £2million from Preston North End.
However, that bid was rejected, meaning the forward could return to action, having been absent for the win over Crawley.
Nicolas Schmid is expected to start between the sticks, while Jordan Williams, Hayden Matthews, Conor Shaughnessy, and Connor Ogilvie could play ahead of him.
Ogilvie was praised for his last performance, having scored a superb goal for the South Coast outfit.
Swift played just 30 minutes in that match and is likely to be given increased minutes on the pitch to get him up to speed for the competitive campaign.
Mark Kosznovszky reportedly recently underwent a Portsmouth medical and could start if his transfer goes through.
Adrian Segecic, Lang, and Josh Murphy look likely to play in behind Colby Bishop, who can spearhead the attack.
Prediction: Reading 0-1 Portsmouth
The Royals are a team on the up and will want to challenge themselves against a side in the league they are striving for.
Reading have had mixed results during pre-season, while Pompey have won every single one of their games.
With that in mind, Portsmouth should edge the intriguing encounter.
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