Reading finished their Championship campaign in style as a four-goal salvo overwhelmed Preston.
Jimmy Kebe fired in a fine solo effort to give Reading an early lead before Jobi McAnuff rounded Billy Jones to double the Royals' advantage.
Preston's Ross Wallace, who had earlier hit the post, hit back for Preston with a 35-yard free-kick.
But Gylfi Sigurdsson drove in a Kebe rebound, and substitute Simon Church arrowed in a stoppage-time volley.
Reading manager Brian McDermott:
"It was a fantastic way to finish. From the 11 games we've had at home since I took charge we won nine, which is not a bad effort, and the goals will stay with us over the summer.
"When I got the job we talked about having a 20-game season and we have collected 40 points from those games.
"We don't want the season to end so if anyone fancies a game, give us a call.
"That is championship form and the players deserve all the credit for that."
Preston manager Darren Ferguson:
"It typifies the season really. There were glimpses of decent play, but it is a poor result and a poor performance.
"I am glad that the season is over to be honest and now we can rebuild.
"I have already told a few players they are not in my plans and some of the players are not good enough.
"It just depends if I can get them out of the club because from what I have seen over the four months there are some players who won't be wanted anywhere.
"A lot of them are on far too much money and it's difficult to get them out but that is football.
"It will become clear over the next few days who those players are.
Live text and stats
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Reading
4-1
Preston
FT
(HT 2-0)
Kebe 12
McAnuff 17
Sigurdsson 72
Church 90+3
Wallace 64
Reading
01 Federici
05 Mills
24 Bertrand
26 Pearce yellow card
40 Griffin (Karacan 84)
07 Tabb
11 McAnuff
14 Kebe
25 Sigurdsson yellow card
34 Howard (Gunnarsson 68)
09 Long (Church 85)
Substitutes
21 Hamer,
06 Gunnarsson,
19 Robson-Kanu,
20 Karacan,
37 Taylor,
18 Church,
29 Bignall
Preston
22 Henderson
03 Davidson
05 Mawene
12 St. Ledger
19 Jones
20 Williams
10 Nicholson (Parkin 14 yellow card)
23 James
25 Wallace yellow card
35 Mayor (Treacy 52)
09 Brown (Proctor 78)
Substitutes
13 Comrie,
14 Chilvers,
16 Treacy,
36 Dougan,
39 Miller,
26 Parkin,
38 Proctor
Ref: LinningtonAtt: 19,239
READING
PRESTON
Possession
Reading52%
Preston48%
Attempts on target
Reading15
Preston5
Attempts off target
Reading3
Preston2
Corners
Reading10
Preston3
Fouls
Reading13
Preston19
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:06 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+2:24 GOAL - Simon Church:Reading 4 - 1 Preston Goal scored by Simon Church from just outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Reading 4-1 Preston.
90:00+1:53 Booking Jon Parkin receives a yellow card.
90:00+1:46 Unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Jon Parkin results in a free kick. Jem Karacan restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+1:01 Outswinging corner taken by Gylfi Sigurdsson, Brynjar Gunnarsson takes a shot. Blocked by Youl Mawene.
90:00+0:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Jon Parkin. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.
88:43 The official flags Simon Church offside. Free kick taken by Wayne Henderson.
87:28 Jamie Proctor takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
86:39 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Wayne Henderson.
85:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jon Parkin on Matthew Mills. Free kick taken by Matthew Mills.
84:46 Substitution Simon Church comes on in place of Shane Long.
84:00+4:01 Booking Booking for Ross Wallace.
83:49 Substitution Andy Griffin leaves the field to be replaced by Jem Karacan.
83:16 Ryan Bertrand fouled by Jon Parkin, the ref awards a free kick. Alex Pearce restarts play with the free kick.
82:39 A cross is delivered by Shane Long.
81:45 Jon Parkin concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Bertrand. Ryan Bertrand restarts play with the free kick.
80:51 Booking Caution for Gylfi Sigurdsson.
80:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Callum Davidson by Gylfi Sigurdsson. Wayne Henderson restarts play with the free kick.
78:29 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Wayne Henderson.
77:52 Substitution Chris Brown goes off and Jamie Proctor comes on.
76:50 A cross is delivered by Gylfi Sigurdsson, Matthew Mills takes a shot. Save by Wayne Henderson.
76:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy Jones on Jobi McAnuff. Gylfi Sigurdsson takes the free kick.
75:51 Brynjar Gunnarsson takes a shot. Blocked by Sean St. Ledger.
75:43 The ball is delivered by Ryan Bertrand, Youl Mawene manages to make a clearance.
74:37 Corner taken right-footed by Gylfi Sigurdsson from the right by-line, clearance by Sean St. Ledger.
74:08 Gylfi Sigurdsson produces a cross, clearance made by Sean St. Ledger.
72:39 Corner taken by Gylfi Sigurdsson, clearance by Sean St. Ledger.
71:39 GOAL - Gylfi Sigurdsson:Reading 3 - 1 Preston Gylfi Sigurdsson fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Reading 3-1 Preston.
71:24 Jimmy Kebe takes a shot. Save made by Wayne Henderson.
67:30 Substitution (Reading) makes a substitution, with Brynjar Gunnarsson coming on for Brian Howard.
67:30 Jon Parkin concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Pearce. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Mills.
67:05 The referee blows for offside against Shane Long. Sean St. Ledger takes the free kick.
66:35 Centre by Ryan Bertrand, Close range header by Shane Long misses to the right of the goal.
66:22 Billy Jones gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff. Brian Howard takes the free kick.
63:59 GOAL - Ross Wallace:Reading 2 - 1 Preston Ross Wallace scores a goal direct from the free kick from long range to the top left corner of the goal. Reading 2-1 Preston.
Correction - 63:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Pearce on Jon Parkin.
63:19 Alex Pearce gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jon Parkin. Ross Wallace restarts play with the free kick.
62:43 Jimmy Kebe fouled by Ross Wallace, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Griffin takes the direct free kick.
61:51 Ross Wallace produces a right-footed shot from just inside the box and strikes the post.
61:25 Corner taken by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
61:14 Centre by Jimmy Kebe, clearance made by Keith Treacy.
59:36 Booking The referee cautions Alex Pearce for unsporting behaviour.
59:25 Alex Pearce challenges Jon Parkin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sean St. Ledger.
57:00 Shane Long takes a shot from inside the six-yard box clearing the crossbar.
56:10 The ball is swung over by Ryan Bertrand, Youl Mawene manages to make a clearance.
54:58 A cross is delivered by Jobi McAnuff, blocked by Keith Treacy.
53:48 Unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Jon Parkin results in a free kick. Ryan Bertrand restarts play with the free kick.
52:49 Inswinging corner taken by Brian Howard from the right by-line.
51:01 Substitution Keith Treacy comes on in place of Danny Mayor.
50:24 Alex Pearce concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Brown. Callum Davidson restarts play with the free kick.
49:47 Jobi McAnuff delivers the ball, clearance by Youl Mawene.
48:18 Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a shot. Save by Wayne Henderson.
47:47 Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a short corner.
45:50 Jon Parkin is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.
45:34 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe.
45:13 Unfair challenge on Andy Griffin by Chris Brown results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Federici.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00+3:10 The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00+2:53 Jay Tabb takes a shot. Matthew James gets a block in.
45:00+2:48 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, Youl Mawene manages to make a clearance.
45:00+2:25 Jon Parkin takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save.
45:00+1:52 Jimmy Kebe is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Sean St. Ledger.
45:00+1:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Pearce on Chris Brown. Direct free kick taken by Chris Brown.
45:00+0:46 Unfair challenge on Alex Pearce by Jon Parkin results in a free kick. Adam Federici takes the direct free kick.
44:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gylfi Sigurdsson by Jon Parkin. Matthew Mills takes the direct free kick.
43:43 Corner taken by Ross Wallace from the right by-line, Adam Federici makes a save.
43:31 Youl Mawene takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save.
43:02 Ross Wallace fouled by Jimmy Kebe, the ref awards a free kick. Ross Wallace takes the direct free kick.
42:28 Jimmy Kebe is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Wayne Henderson restarts play with the free kick.
41:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jon Parkin by Matthew Mills. Ross Wallace takes the free kick.
39:39 A cross is delivered by Ryan Bertrand, Shane Long takes a shot. Save made by Wayne Henderson.
37:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jon Parkin by Alex Pearce. Sean St. Ledger takes the free kick.
37:12 Ross Wallace gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Griffin. Direct free kick taken by Adam Federici.
37:02 Jon Parkin delivers the ball.
36:29 Chris Brown produces a cross, clearance by Matthew Mills.
35:13 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, save by Adam Federici.
33:53 The assistant referee flags for offside against Gylfi Sigurdsson. Wayne Henderson restarts play with the free kick.
33:41 Shane Long takes a shot. Wayne Henderson makes a save.
32:40 Matthew James takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
30:16 Shane Long concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean St. Ledger. Free kick taken by Sean St. Ledger.
28:06 Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the right by-line, save by Wayne Henderson.
27:01 Ross Wallace is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Federici.
25:55 Shane Long is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Sean St. Ledger takes the free kick.
25:00 Jimmy Kebe fouled by Tom Williams, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Griffin takes the direct free kick.
24:20 Jimmy Kebe conjures a right-footed shot from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.
24:08 Shane Long takes a shot. Save by Wayne Henderson.
22:55 Inswinging corner taken by Ross Wallace from the right by-line, clearance by Jobi McAnuff.
21:10 Inswinging corner taken by Brian Howard from the right by-line, Jon Parkin manages to make a clearance.
21:05 The ball is swung over by Jobi McAnuff, Danny Mayor gets a block in.
20:57 The ball is crossed by Jobi McAnuff, Matthew James gets a block in.
20:37 Brian Howard decides to take the corner short.
19:57 Callum Davidson concedes a free kick for a foul on Shane Long. Free kick taken by Brian Howard.
19:18 Unfair challenge on Shane Long by Callum Davidson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Bertrand.
18:22 Corner taken by Ross Wallace.
18:05 Sean St. Ledger takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Mills.
17:46 Brian Howard gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew James. Callum Davidson restarts play with the free kick.
16:47 GOAL - Jobi McAnuff:Reading 2 - 0 Preston Jobi McAnuff gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Reading 2-0 Preston.
15:28 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gylfi Sigurdsson by Matthew James. Direct free kick taken by Brian Howard.
14:07 Foul by Shane Long on Sean St. Ledger, free kick awarded. Wayne Henderson takes the direct free kick.
13:27 Substitution Barry Nicholson leaves the field to be replaced by Jon Parkin.
11:10 GOAL - Jimmy Kebe:Reading 1 - 0 Preston Jimmy Kebe fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Reading 1-0 Preston.
10:12 Free kick awarded for a foul by Shane Long on Billy Jones. Wayne Henderson takes the free kick.
9:50 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gylfi Sigurdsson, Billy Jones makes a clearance.
9:44 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, Billy Jones makes a clearance.
9:24 Ross Wallace gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brian Howard. Matthew Mills restarts play with the free kick.
8:30 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Kebe, blocked by Tom Williams.
5:38 Shane Long challenges Billy Jones unfairly and gives away a free kick. Youl Mawene restarts play with the free kick.
3:32 The ball is crossed by Shane Long, Sean St. Ledger makes a clearance.
3:05 Jobi McAnuff takes a shot. Blocked by Callum Davidson.
2:26 Foul by Barry Nicholson on Gylfi Sigurdsson, free kick awarded. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
1:49 Danny Mayor sends in a cross, blocked by Jobi McAnuff.
0:00 The match begins.
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