[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Johnson, Robinson Reading 3 Baldock, Ilori, Bacuna

PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke ©, Huntington, Davies, Fisher (Harrop, 56), Gallagher (Nmecha, 57), Johnson, Earl, Barkhuizen, Moult (Burke, 80), Robinsons. Subs not used: Maxwell, Storey, Hughes, Barker.

Reading line-up: Walker, Gunter, Yiadom, Moore ©, Bacuna, Baldock, Swift, Aluko (Sims, 79), Ilori, Meite (Bodvarsson, 75), Kelly. Subs not used: Jaakkola, O’Shea, McShane, McNulty, Rinomhota.

Attendance: 10,849 (288 Reading fans)

Referee: Mr D Bond



Reading hadn't won for 11 games before today the last side they beat was us, they won this due to some naive home defending saying that though Reading couldn't defend either.
North End seemed to start with a 343 formation with Earl and Fisher able to drop back into a five when required.
We started the brighter, Robinson had already forced Walker into a good save before a Barkhuizen header hit the post, only looked a matter of time until we scored but against the run of play we went one down, Gallagher clearly looked to been fouled criminally we stopped playing no whistle came ball to Baldock Royals 1 up.
Could have been two but Rudd kept out a fierce shot. Drew level Earl fired in a cross fell to Robinson whose shot was blocked ran out to Johnson whose effort deflected sent Walker the wrong way.
Robinson nearly made it two fed in by Moult pulled his shot wide with Barkhuizen not quite able to get to the ball at the far post.
Kelly Readings best player forced another good save form Rudd.
Early penalty shout in the second half for the home side before Walker denied Robinson with a decent save.
Reading went ahead again short corner, a back heel by Swift took most of the North End defence out of the equation ball across and Ilori scored from close range.
We pressed forward were denied a goal when a goalbound header from possibly Huntington hit his own player Nmecha on the line, didn't matter though for within a couple of minutes we were back level when Earl fired a shot across goal and Robinson our best player on the day touched the ball home.
Push on and win this nope give ball away cheaply as Barkhuizen did and watch Reading swarm forward in numbers sub Simms crossing from the by line and Bacuna back heeling home from close range. No comeback this time.
23rd in the league already looking forward to boycotting an Under 21 side in the Checkatrade trophy next season.
Defensively look weak at the moment however all three defensive midfield ratters are either injured or suspended. Needs to improve Alex and soon.

Preston North End manager Alex Neil said:

"It's obviously disappointing. I did think we deserved something from the game but if you need to score four goals at home to win it's never good.

"We did create enough chances to win the game and we should have scored more goals but we didn't take those chances.

"Defensively we need to be better though and their second goal was particularly disappointing for me and the third came when we were trying to win it."

Reading boss Paul Clement told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"It's a feeling that we haven't had a lot recently.

"We had to work hard for it and it was a very tight game but fortunately today we were able to get those little details right to get over the line.

"Of course it wasn't the perfect performance but we played in a competitive game and came out on top. I'm very pleased with the mental aspect.

"Winning 1-0 away from home, great, then they come back into the game and then we go again 2-1 and then it happens again and you can start thinking 'it's not going to be our day again' but we got the victory so I'm really pleased with that."