Preston moved up to fifth in the North End Championship as they beat Reading for a third straight win in the league.
After a lack of chances at either end of the first half, Preston grabbed Robbie Brady’s swinging ball into the box thanks to Chad Evans’ superb header.
Reading had 20 minutes remaining as Lucas Joao made no mistake from the spot after Brady brought down Andy Yadom.
Evans hit a collecting winner just outside the box before rounding past Reading keeper Joe Lumley.
The result moves Preston up three places and into the Championship’s top six, continuing their winning run, while Reading are 11th after their fifth defeat in seven games.
Preston come into the match after a poor defensive run during their travels, conceding eight goals in their last four away Championship games, but they held Reading to a draw in the first 45 minutes.
Neither side offered much before the break and they seemed to cancel each other out, with Brady forcing a fine save from Lumley just before half-time as Preston registered their first meaningful shot on goal. .
Brady was involved when Preston broke the deadlock early in the second half when he curled a ball down the right that Evans did well to poke into the bottom left-hand corner.
Preston’s lead only lasted 20 minutes when Joao slotted his penalty past Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman but drama was to come as the game wore on.
Evans, who had previously scored his first goal in 35 appearances, grabbed his second goal of the evening after some excellent work down the right wing from Ben Woodburn, who produced a decisive low shot for Evans. Got the ball out for.
Reading boss Paul Innes told:
“[We were] lazy, clumsy, tired. There wasn’t much between the two teams, it was a close game, boring to be honest. It was 0-0 at half-time and I thought one goal would win it. Is.
“I told the players ‘this is our last game at home for four weeks, we’re losing balls in the middle of the park with no contest’, our decision-making was terrible. This was not a team that We saw it on Tuesday.
“Are they tired? Of course they’re tired, they’ve played three games in six days and that’s what players are being asked to do. Is that an excuse? Yes, it could be.”
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe told:
“It was fantastic. I thought the boys were fantastic in everything they did. In the first half, I thought we gave the ball away but we focused on that at halftime and the boys were on the same page and Knew they had to. Keep the ball better.
“I’m happy for Chad Evans, it’s been a while but the two have come together. I thought his performances on Tuesday and today were outstanding.
“He’s a solid supporter and I’m happy for him to get those goals. As a former striker, when you haven’t scored for a while, it’s a burden.”
