Well that was a strange evening. The first 30 minutes Reading dominated - but apart from the goal created little. For the next 30 minutes it was all Preston really and we seemed to lose our way in a crowded and ineffective midfield with Tabb, Karacan and Howard all getting in each other's way. Preston scored a lucky but probably deserved equaliser. Brian did the brave but obvious and reverted to 4-4-2 and the last 30 minutes were very exciting. Just when I thought it was not going to be our night - Brian brought on R-K for the tiring McAnuff and a minute later we had three points. Well done to all the players for sticking with it. MOTM to Brain for making the substitutions at the right times. But great to see Legs back - what a player and Karacan looked so much better when the other two had departed. Number 13 were fantastic tonight and really drove the team on. The referee would have been a disgrace in a Sunday League game.
andrew1957

Well, in summary, a dreadful 57 minutes (even though we scored) and then the substitutions were made which changed the game. First half we were flat, complacent and totally switched off when we went a goal up. Almost as if the job was done. For me, and again despite the goal i thought that was Kebe's worst game in a Reading short this season. Howard was ineffective and too many short lose passes from Tabb etc. Ingimarsson is an accident waiting to happen and Mills coming back in cannot come quick enough. Harte and Griffin were excellent as was Kishi who is getting better and better. Delighted that Mcdermott was more creative in his substitutions by going with Manset over Church and the difference was all to see. Leigertwood was excellent when coming on and stole the show with his composure and shear presence. Robson Kanu running at players with pace also made an instant impact and pleased he got the goal. Referee was woeful and i am not normally one to moan. Hesitant and unable to get key decisions right. Surprised at the low attendance tonight, but a good atmosphere for first 20 mins and the last. Onwards and upwards.
paultheroyal

Reading's recent form had seen them climb into the top six and they closed the gap on fifth-placed Leeds to one point after Robson-Kanu looped his strike over Turner after 81 minutes. It was a cruel blow for Preston, who had won their previous three fixtures but remain eight points from safety after the loss at the Madejski Stadium with seven games left to play. The next two fixtures for North End are also away from Deepdale, with a match at Portsmouth on Saturday followed by a potentially crucial trip to face a Doncaster side who are sliding down the table. In truth, it was a largely disappointing game and the first half was particularly poor, with hardly any incidents of note. The in-form Shane Long flicked an Ian Harte free-kick wide of the target but it was hardly a sign of things to come. Reading, with just one change from the team that defeated Portsmouth on Saturday, were the more inventive of the two sides and created space for Brian Howard to shoot from 20 yards but his low drive was easily saved by Turner.

There was more than a hint of fortune about the Royals opening goal as Long's cross from the right struck makeshift Preston right-back Barry Nicholson and looped over the helpless Turner and into the path of Kebe, who bundled the ball home. Turner punched a cross-come-shot from Howard clear but that was more or less the full extent of the chances in the opening 45 minutes as Preston failed to trouble McCarthy in the Reading goal. North End's equaliser came seven minutes after the restart when Fulham loanee Johnson flicked a Keith Treacy header against the post and the ball went in off McCarthy's back. Billy Jones was then inches away from converting an Iain Hume flick, but after that it was Reading who took control. Bongani Khumalo deflected a shot from Long wide, before a fierce strike from Zurab Khizanishvili was cleared on the line by Ian Ashbee. The referee was surrounded by Royals players appealing for handball but he waved away their protests. Reading's frustration grew when a long-range strike from Harte appeared to deceive Turner, but the keeper got a touch on the ball and it hit the crossbar before rebounding to safety. But the winner came through Robson-Kanu's shot and Reading almost extended their advantage but Turner denied Long and substitute Mathieu Manset, who also shot wide.
BBC Sport