Ten man Reading so nearly managed to pick-up a point at Preston tonight, after a late second half fightback, but went down to a goal in the final couple of minutes to end up on the wrong end of a 1-2 defeat. After Saturday's spirited home victory against Sheffield United this performance didn't impress but there were positive signs on display from the Royals during the second half after the first half belonged entirely to the home side. Preston could easily have been two or three goals up at the break. Steve Coppell gave new loan signing Brooker a start with Murray back in the starting eleven as Salako and Goater found themselves on the bench. Whether it was the changes to the side, and the revised 4-5-1 formation, or Preston's approach to the game it looked like we were going to be in for a bad evening as Preston got off to the better start.

Reading had just a couple of chances in the first half with Sidwell scuffing a shot and Hughes putting one wide - down the other end Hahnemann pulled off a couple of saves and was also saved by the crossbar as Preston threatened to put the game past Reading. After a good Hahnemann save and a long range effort that smacked against the crossbar Preston moved ahead just after the half hour mark when Healy strode through the Reading defence and took the ball past the Reading keeper before rolling it into the back of the net. It could have been much worse for Reading after another shot hit the underside of the crossbar and nearly bounced over the line for the second. Just before the break Hahnemann was on hand again to push a decent effort past the Reading post.

There was no let up for the Royals early in the second half when Lloyd Owusu was presented with a straight red card just three minutes into the half. He went flying through the air with both feet into a strong tackle that found the ball and the player. The resulting Preston protests saw the referee dish out the red card and saw Reading faced with the prospect of playing with ten men for nearly an entire half. For a moment Preston threatened to finish the game off before Reading dug in to fight their way back into the game. The Royals didn't make a great number of chances but got a late breakthrough that looked like it might salvage a point - Hughes got down the right and crossed to substitute Kitson who headed down for Salako, also fresh off the bench, to drive it home from well inside the Preston area.

Just when it looked like Reading would grab a point Preston snatched the win when Hahnemann came off second best when a cross was played into the Reading area. Hahnemann came for the ball but ended up in a heap with a group of players challenging. With the net unguarded Healy proded it home from close range for his second goal of the game. It was a cruel blow after Reading had looked good for the point with just ten men - but Preston will argue they had the better of the game across the ninety minutes.