Past the midway stage of this first half.

After that Andy Carroll chance for Reading, things have slightly settled down.

Alan Browne works onto a Ben Whiteman corner as Preston continue to enjoy a spell of dominance against Stoke.

Fortunately for the hosts, his headed effort goes wide of the target.

Image source, Getty Images

There's some afters following a clash between both sides, leading to referee Joshua Smith's intervention.

It looks like it started following a coming together involving George Williams and Marcus Harness.

Sam Smith goes into the book in the aftermath.

There's the best chance we've had!

Andy Carroll so close to heading Reading 1-0 up.

Ryan Allsop makes a great save away to his right and palms it strongly away.

John Swift set it all up with a good cross from the left and Tom Dele-Bashiru was also denied a chance to follow up the rebound by some alert Derby defence.

Daniel Johnson works the ball to Ched Evans from the byline as Preston keep pressing Stoke.

His effort inside the box is blocked before the hosts sheepishly clear their lines.

Ambitious effort from range from Max Bird for Derby sails high and wide of Luke Southwood's goal.

Not been too many chances of note in these opening 15 minutes or so.

Kamil Jozwiak forces a foul out of Baba Rahman on the edge of Reading's penalty area.

Andy Carroll heads the delivery from Max Bird away inside his own area and then keeps tracking back to prevent Craig Forsyth delivering a cross from the left.

Ben Whiteman tries his luck from long range as Preston look to catch out Stoke.

But his strike is well held by Stoke keeper Adam Davies.

Some old-school communication going on it seems on the Derby bench between Liam Rosenior and their at-home boss Wayne Rooney.

Goalkeeper coach Jason Pearcey has a phone to his ear on the bench relaying messages from the former England captain one presumes.

The club said Rooney was feeling unwell, but had tested negative for Covid-19.

Sam Smith wins back possession from Portsmouth as Cambridge put the visitors under some pressure in these early stages.

He sends a cross in which rebounds into the path of George Williams, whose final efffort is fired straight towards Pompey keeper Gavin Bazunu.

Junior Hoilett popping up on the ball early on a few times for Reading making his first start since October.

He and Nathan Byrne tangle for the ball and the Derby full-back needs a few minutes here just to get a bit of treatment. Looks OK to continue.

Steven Fletcher tries to get onto the end of a cross in from the left wing as Stoke press upfield but he can't quite connect.

Soon after the hosts win a corner against Preston but Mario Vrancic's effort into the box flies out for a goal kick.

First chance in this one goes to Portsmouth as George Hirst picks up posession on the edge of the Cambridge box.

But his shot on goal is scuffed wide of the mark and fails to trouble Us keeper Dimitar Mitov.

Derby coming into this one on a run of three straight wins, so they also have some energy about them.

Craig Forsyth and Jason Knight combine well down their left with Forsyth getting to the byeline before the ball goes behind for a corner.

Luke Southwood manages to punch it away from the head of Curtis Davies in his own six-yard box.

Good early tempo from Reading who are on the attack from the off.

Andy Carroll almost sneaking in on a defensive header from Phil Jagielka back to Ryan Allsop in the visitors' goal.

And we're under way in the other two fixtures in the English Football League this afternoon.

John Busby is the man in charge this afternoon at the SCL Stadium.

Derby are in their away strip of deep purple shirts, shorts and socks, Reading in the traditional blue and white hoops.

Sweet Caroline has been belted out of the PA and the home fans are up for this one, having not seen their side in action for almost a month...

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Josh Laurent captains Reading in the absence of the injured Liam Moore.

They also include Junior Hoilett, John Swift, Andy Carroll and Alen Halilovic in their starting XI having not played since 11 December when they were beaten 1-0 at West Brom.

Derby County name an unchanged starting line-up from the side which won 2-1 at Stoke on Thursday.

Liam Rosenior takes charge of the visitors while Wayne Rooney stays at home as a precaution.

Former Reading striker Sam Baldock is among their substitutes.

Reading XI: Southwood, Ashcroft, Holmes, Dann, Rahman, Dele-Bashiru, Laurent (capt), Halilovic, Swift, Hoilett, Carroll.

Subs: Rafael, Stickland, Camara, Araruna, Azeez, Clarke, Puscas.

Derby XI: Allsop; Byrne, Forsyth, Jagielka, Davies, Bird, Thompson, Jozwiak, Knight, Lawrecne (capt), Plange.

Subs: Roos, Stearman, Williams, Ebosele, Morrison, Baldock, Kazim-Richards.

Stoke make three changes to their line-up to face Preston in the Championship today.

James Chester, Tom Ince and Steven Fletcher all start for the Potters, with Tommy Smith and Jacob Brown on the bench.

Meanwhile, Preston make two changes to their side after their win against Barnsley.

Brad Potts and Ched Evans return to their starting line-up for the trip to the Bet365 Stadium.

Stoke XI: Davies, Wilmot, Batth, Chester, Fox, Allen, Clucas, Vrancic, Ince, Campbell, Fletcher.

Subs: Bonham, Smith, Doughty, Brown, Oakley-Boothe, Surridge, Wright-Phillips.

Preston XI: Iversen, van den Berg, Whiteman, Bauer, Browne, Evans, Johnson, Hughes, Riis, Earl, Potts.

Subs: Ripley, Lindsay, Rafferty, Ledson, McCann, Sinclair, Maguire.