Preston North End 2 Johnson, Archer Reading 3 Joao 2 Swift
PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Potts (Lindsay, 35), Whiteman (Ledson, 46), Browne, Johnson, Sinclair; Riis (Evans, 53), Archer. Subs not used: Ripley, McCann, Rafferty, Diaby.
Reading line-up: Hein; Yiadom, Morrison, Holmes, Rahman (McIntyre, 61); Drinkwater, Rinomhota, Swift; Ince (Barker, 90+6), Joao, Hoilett (Meite, 67). Subs not used: Southwood, Meite, Dele-Bashiru, Camara, Abrefa.
Attendance: 12,817 (332 away fans).
Referee: Mr J Busby
Velkjo Paunovic's last match as Reading manager saw them take three big points against a North End side who for an hour had been abysmal an that is being kind. The Royals boss agreed to leave the post before the game didn't tell the players until afterwards and saw them deservedly win 3-2. They have appointed Paul Ince as an interim manager.
They have taken 26 points this season six of them from us, in truth they could have been out of sight long before we made a fight of it in the last 30 minutes, this was a retuurn to the old days for us, slow build up, goals easily conceded and way off the pace, cold have happened last week at Peterborough difference being Reading had a proven goalscorer in Lucas Joao.
Makes you wonder were they would have been in the table if he had not been injured for five months always seems to play well against us and today was no exception.
One change from last week Sinclair in from Earl nd within one minute from the kick off one down, had plenty of chances to clear it didn't and Joao potted from close range.. They were well on top, chased every ball down put defenders under pressure and we obliged by passing to them on many occasions, had a bit of an out ball to Potts who looked like he could cause them problems until he was subbed after 35 minuyes, by which time we were two down.
Joao ran at the defence skipped past one weak tackle before burying the ball past Iversen. He could have had three himself by half time denied by a good save by the Dane.
With the withdrawal of Potts went to four at the back and actually got a head of steam up , should really have reduced the arrears, good work by Sinclair robbing a Reading defender, ball to Riis, two men in acres of space, Riis puts the ball into Sainsbury's on the othet side of Blackpool Road
Ledson for Whiteman at half time, could easily have been three down within a minute or so of the kick off, twice cleared from the line, to say teh defending was abysmal was an understatement. Evans on for Riis and soon three down. Swift ambles up the left wing plays one two with Joao, receives ball in the area wanders past half hearted tackle and curls it past Iversen. The sign for some toleave although within a minute they were coming back as Reading's defence disappeared and Johnson squeezed the ball home.
Reading started to waste time as all clubs do and generally taking the sting out of the game until from a scramble in the goalmouth Archer made it 2-3, game on, with 15 to go. Had half chances Evans probably should have done better from a header about 10 yards out. Sinclair's effort curled just over and Bauer's shot which looked goal bound late on was well blocked but in fairness probably right result cannot give teams three goal starts and expect to win
Preston manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"To be 2-0 down after 19 minutes was tough. The game plan goes out of the window, doesn't it?
"We've fought back from that before but, as I've said to the group in there, I don't want to keep doing that.
"We did get another reaction and we possibly could have scored late on to make it 3-3 but that would have been harsh on them, possibly.
"I think the performance in the first half was nowhere near the levels."
Departing Reading manager Veljko Paunovic told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"I think the team is now much better prepared, this win helps the confidence. It's a big statement from the team.
"Today was another day where we gave our best and fortunately the best was enough to get the three points.
"We knew that this result [his dismissal] may happen, coming into the game. I don't know how much this win would have changed the negativity that surrounded me."
PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Potts (Lindsay, 35), Whiteman (Ledson, 46), Browne, Johnson, Sinclair; Riis (Evans, 53), Archer. Subs not used: Ripley, McCann, Rafferty, Diaby.
Reading line-up: Hein; Yiadom, Morrison, Holmes, Rahman (McIntyre, 61); Drinkwater, Rinomhota, Swift; Ince (Barker, 90+6), Joao, Hoilett (Meite, 67). Subs not used: Southwood, Meite, Dele-Bashiru, Camara, Abrefa.
Attendance: 12,817 (332 away fans).
Referee: Mr J Busby
Velkjo Paunovic's last match as Reading manager saw them take three big points against a North End side who for an hour had been abysmal an that is being kind. The Royals boss agreed to leave the post before the game didn't tell the players until afterwards and saw them deservedly win 3-2. They have appointed Paul Ince as an interim manager.
They have taken 26 points this season six of them from us, in truth they could have been out of sight long before we made a fight of it in the last 30 minutes, this was a retuurn to the old days for us, slow build up, goals easily conceded and way off the pace, cold have happened last week at Peterborough difference being Reading had a proven goalscorer in Lucas Joao.
Makes you wonder were they would have been in the table if he had not been injured for five months always seems to play well against us and today was no exception.
One change from last week Sinclair in from Earl nd within one minute from the kick off one down, had plenty of chances to clear it didn't and Joao potted from close range.. They were well on top, chased every ball down put defenders under pressure and we obliged by passing to them on many occasions, had a bit of an out ball to Potts who looked like he could cause them problems until he was subbed after 35 minuyes, by which time we were two down.
Joao ran at the defence skipped past one weak tackle before burying the ball past Iversen. He could have had three himself by half time denied by a good save by the Dane.
With the withdrawal of Potts went to four at the back and actually got a head of steam up , should really have reduced the arrears, good work by Sinclair robbing a Reading defender, ball to Riis, two men in acres of space, Riis puts the ball into Sainsbury's on the othet side of Blackpool Road
Ledson for Whiteman at half time, could easily have been three down within a minute or so of the kick off, twice cleared from the line, to say teh defending was abysmal was an understatement. Evans on for Riis and soon three down. Swift ambles up the left wing plays one two with Joao, receives ball in the area wanders past half hearted tackle and curls it past Iversen. The sign for some toleave although within a minute they were coming back as Reading's defence disappeared and Johnson squeezed the ball home.
Reading started to waste time as all clubs do and generally taking the sting out of the game until from a scramble in the goalmouth Archer made it 2-3, game on, with 15 to go. Had half chances Evans probably should have done better from a header about 10 yards out. Sinclair's effort curled just over and Bauer's shot which looked goal bound late on was well blocked but in fairness probably right result cannot give teams three goal starts and expect to win
Preston manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"To be 2-0 down after 19 minutes was tough. The game plan goes out of the window, doesn't it?
"We've fought back from that before but, as I've said to the group in there, I don't want to keep doing that.
"We did get another reaction and we possibly could have scored late on to make it 3-3 but that would have been harsh on them, possibly.
"I think the performance in the first half was nowhere near the levels."
Departing Reading manager Veljko Paunovic told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"I think the team is now much better prepared, this win helps the confidence. It's a big statement from the team.
"Today was another day where we gave our best and fortunately the best was enough to get the three points.
"We knew that this result [his dismissal] may happen, coming into the game. I don't know how much this win would have changed the negativity that surrounded me."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?