Reading produced a Championship shock as they survived a late Preston onslaught to win away at Deepdale.
After an even start the Royals took the lead when Richard Chaplow lost the ball and Simon Church ran through to score.
They doubled their advantage before the break, Jimmy Kebe beating the offside trap and curling past Andy Lonergan.
Neil Mellor hit an upright for Preston and Ross Wallace struck a post, before Ivar Ingimarsson conceded a penalty and Jon Parkin grabbed a late consolation.
Despite having other chances before the finish, with both Mellor and Parkin denied by Adam Federici, Reading hung on for a vital victory.
Preston boss Alan Irvine: "Not acceptable first half, excellent second half.
"We've come back from being 2-0 down before and I thought we could do it again and how many chances did we have?
"We've hit the woodwork three times and their goalkeeper has made some great saves - we could still have come back.
"I always believe we can come back if we apply ourselves properly."
Reading manager Brendan Rodgers: "It was a good game.
"I'm really pleased. I thought we were outstanding tonight, especially in the first half, like we have been in a lot of games.
"We were very good with the ball and went 2-0 up and I thought we were exceptional in the first half with or without the ball.
"Tactically we were strong and going into second half we knew Alan (Irvine) is an outstanding coach, so we knew his team would come out and give it a go.
"We had a chance to kill the game and then from that moment the game turned a bit but that's the nature of it."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Preston
1-2
Reading
FT
(HT 0-2)
Parkin (pen) 85
Church 34
Kebe 43
Preston
01 Lonergan
06 Collins
14 Chilvers (Mawene 88)
19 Jones
27 Nolan
04 Chaplow (Carter 46)
07 Sedgwick (Parkin 67)
08 Shumulikoski
25 Wallace
09 Brown
33 Mellor
Substitutes
22 Henderson,
02 Hart,
05 Mawene,
11 Carter,
26 Parkin,
29 Elliott
Reading
01 Federici
16 Ingimarsson
24 Bertrand
35 Cummings
48 O'Dea
06 Gunnarsson
11 McAnuff (Mills 67 yellow card)
14 Kebe yellow card
20 Karacan (Cisse 78)
34 Howard yellow card
18 Church (Rasiak 87)
Substitutes
21 Hamer,
05 Mills,
04 Cisse,
08 Matejovsky,
25 Sigurdsson,
10 Hunt,
23 Rasiak
Ref: PennAtt: 10,987
PRESTON
READING
Possession
Preston54%
Reading46%
Attempts on target
Preston9
Reading8
Attempts off target
Preston7
Reading5
Corners
Preston9
Reading5
Fouls
Preston3
Reading16
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:43 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+3:17 Youl Mawene gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe. Matthew Mills takes the free kick.
90:00+2:52 The ball is crossed by Ross Wallace.
90:00+2:27 Corner taken right-footed by Veliche Shumulikoski, Shaun Cummings makes a clearance.
90:00+2:07 Jon Parkin takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save.
90:00+1:25 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
90:00+0:53 Ross Wallace crosses the ball, Neill Collins takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save.
90:00+0:03 Booking Brian Howard goes into the referee's book.
89:53 Neil Mellor fouled by Grzegorz Rasiak, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
89:40 Eddie Nolan sends in a cross, Grzegorz Rasiak manages to make a clearance.
88:44 Veliche Shumulikoski delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Darren O'Dea.
88:44 Booking Jimmy Kebe is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
88:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Veliche Shumulikoski by Jimmy Kebe.
88:23 Ross Wallace crosses the ball, Brynjar Gunnarsson manages to make a clearance.
87:43 The offside flag is raised against Grzegorz Rasiak. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
87:01 Substitution Youl Mawene comes on in place of Liam Chilvers.
86:38 Substitution Simon Church leaves the field to be replaced by Grzegorz Rasiak.
86:07 Centre by Ross Wallace.
85:45 Kalifa Cisse takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
85:16 The ball is delivered by Billy Jones, save made by Adam Federici.
84:13 GOAL - Jon Parkin:Preston 1 - 2 Reading Placed penalty scored by Jon Parkin. Preston 1-2 Reading.
83:24 Matthew Mills gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Jon Parkin.
81:06 Jon Parkin produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
80:24 Matthew Mills concedes a free kick for a foul on Neil Mellor. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Veliche Shumulikoski, clearance by Brynjar Gunnarsson.
79:50 Eddie Nolan takes the direct free kick.
79:50 Booking Matthew Mills receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
79:44 Matthew Mills challenges Jon Parkin unfairly and gives away a free kick.
78:24 Centre by Eddie Nolan, Kalifa Cisse gets a block in.
78:13 A cross is delivered by Eddie Nolan, clearance by Darren O'Dea.
77:22 Substitution Jem Karacan goes off and Kalifa Cisse comes on.
76:49 Shot from long range by Ross Wallace bounces off the post.
76:20 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Ivar Ingimarsson gets a block in.
75:52 Ross Wallace takes a shot. Ivar Ingimarsson gets a block in.
75:32 Neil Mellor has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area that bounces off the post.
74:53 Corner from the left by-line taken by Ross Wallace, Brynjar Gunnarsson manages to make a clearance.
74:40 Neil Mellor takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
74:04 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace, Liam Chilvers has a volleyed shot. Matthew Mills gets a block in.
72:13 Effort on goal by Darren Carter from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
71:46 Corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace to the near post, Jem Karacan makes a clearance.
70:23 Brian Howard takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Jon Parkin.
68:14 Corner taken by Veliche Shumulikoski, clearance by Darren O'Dea.
67:55 Corner taken right-footed by Veliche Shumulikoski to the near post, Brian Howard manages to make a clearance.
67:39 Ross Wallace takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
66:44 Substitution Jobi McAnuff goes off and Matthew Mills comes on.
66:03 Substitution Jon Parkin is brought on as a substitute for Chris Sedgwick.
65:47 The ball is delivered by Ross Wallace.
64:26 Ross Wallace produces a cross.
63:58 The official flags Simon Church offside. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
62:35 Ross Wallace gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jem Karacan. Brian Howard takes the direct free kick.
62:22 Chris Sedgwick crosses the ball, Ivar Ingimarsson manages to make a clearance.
61:54 Centre by Jimmy Kebe.
60:15 The assistant referee signals for offside against Simon Church. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
59:30 Foul by Ryan Bertrand on Chris Sedgwick, free kick awarded. Chris Sedgwick takes the free kick.
59:04 The ball is swung over by Brian Howard, Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
58:41 Chris Sedgwick sends in a cross, Adam Federici makes a save.
57:59 Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
57:40 The ball is delivered by Chris Sedgwick, Adam Federici makes a save.
56:48 Unfair challenge on Eddie Nolan by Jimmy Kebe results in a free kick. Ross Wallace delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, Jem Karacan makes a clearance.
55:30 A cross is delivered by Chris Brown.
53:47 Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
53:12 A cross is delivered by Ross Wallace, clearance by Ivar Ingimarsson.
52:31 Simon Church is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
51:53 Effort from the edge of the box by Ross Wallace goes wide of the left-hand upright.
51:24 Brynjar Gunnarsson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Veliche Shumulikoski. Liam Chilvers takes the direct free kick.
50:53 Foul by Ryan Bertrand on Eddie Nolan, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Billy Jones.
50:22 The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris Brown. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Federici.
48:48 The ball is crossed by Billy Jones, clearance made by Shaun Cummings.
46:36 Eddie Nolan delivers the ball, Ivar Ingimarsson manages to make a clearance.
46:24 The ball is crossed by Ross Wallace, Brynjar Gunnarsson makes a clearance.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
45:01 Substitution Richard Chaplow leaves the field to be replaced by Darren Carter.
Half Time
45:00+1:04 The first half comes to an end.
44:51 Simon Church is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
44:41 The ball is swung over by Shaun Cummings.
42:13 Jem Karacan provided the assist for the goal.
42:13 GOAL - Jimmy Kebe:Preston 0 - 2 Reading Jimmy Kebe scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Preston 0-2 Reading.
41:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ivar Ingimarsson on Neil Mellor. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ross Wallace from right by-line, clearance by Ryan Bertrand.
39:56 Unfair challenge on Chris Sedgwick by Ryan Bertrand results in a free kick. Neill Collins takes the direct free kick.
38:39 The offside flag is raised against Simon Church. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
36:08 Inswinging corner taken by Veliche Shumulikoski, Ivar Ingimarsson manages to make a clearance.
36:02 The ball is swung over by Eddie Nolan, blocked by Jem Karacan.
34:00 GOAL - Simon Church:Preston 0 - 1 Reading Simon Church scores a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Preston 0-1 Reading.
32:51 The assistant referee flags for offside against Jimmy Kebe. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
32:32 The ball is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, Eddie Nolan gets a block in.
31:45 Effort on goal by Brian Howard from just inside the area clears the bar.
31:29 Brian Howard takes a shot. Neill Collins gets a block in.
31:18 The ball is crossed by Jimmy Kebe, Chris Sedgwick makes a clearance.
30:02 A cross is delivered by Ross Wallace, Darren O'Dea makes a clearance.
29:40 The ball is delivered by Neil Mellor, Brynjar Gunnarsson makes a clearance.
29:02 Shot by Jem Karacan from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
28:35 Corner taken by Brian Howard, Eddie Nolan makes a clearance.
28:28 The ball is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, clearance by Billy Jones.
27:00 The ball is sent over by Ross Wallace.
26:09 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard, free kick awarded for a foul by Darren O'Dea on Chris Sedgwick. Andy Lonergan takes the direct free kick.
25:51 Brian Howard takes a shot. Liam Chilvers gets a block in.
24:49 Jimmy Kebe is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
24:33 The assistant referee flags for offside against Neil Mellor. Adam Federici restarts play with the free kick.
23:48 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Neil Mellor by Brian Howard. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ross Wallace from left wing.
21:06 Liam Chilvers fouled by Brynjar Gunnarsson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
20:45 Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the right by-line to the near post, Chris Brown makes a clearance.
20:18 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the right by-line to the near post, Chris Sedgwick manages to make a clearance.
18:06 Effort on goal by Brian Howard from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
16:55 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, clearance by Chris Sedgwick.
16:13 Shaun Cummings concedes a free kick for a foul on Eddie Nolan. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
14:33 Jimmy Kebe produces a cross, clearance made by Neill Collins.
13:02 Simon Church challenges Veliche Shumulikoski unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neill Collins.
12:28 Ross Wallace takes a shot from long distance which goes wide of the right-hand post.
10:40 The referee blows for offside against Simon Church. Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
10:21 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe.
9:03 Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
7:48 Inswinging corner taken by Ross Wallace from the right by-line, save made by Adam Federici.
7:39 A cross is delivered by Richard Chaplow, Ryan Bertrand gets a block in.
7:20 The ball is sent over by Brian Howard.
6:48 Neill Collins takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
5:58 Corner taken by Ross Wallace from the right by-line to the near post, save made by Adam Federici.
5:05 Jimmy Kebe has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
4:01 Jobi McAnuff produces a cross, clearance made by Chris Sedgwick.
3:27 Veliche Shumulikoski challenges Brian Howard unfairly and gives away a free kick. Brian Howard delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Billy Jones manages to make a clearance.
2:47 Neil Mellor delivers the ball, Chris Sedgwick takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
1:06 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, clearance made by Ryan Bertrand.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
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