Match ends, Reading 1, Preston North End 0.
ReadingReading1PrestonPreston North End0
Modou Barrow's winner strengthened Reading's chances of staying up and damaged Preston's play-off hopes.
The Royals hit the front when Liam Kelly's free-kick found leading scorer Barrow at the back post to head in.
Preston almost equalised immediately as Lewis Moult's free-kick smacked against the crossbar.
The visitors increased the pressure after the break, with Sean Maguire heading Billy Bodin's cross against the bar.
After just one win in 18 league matches, Paul Clements has two wins from his three games in charge since replacing Jaap Stam as Reading scored with their only attempt on target.
Preston were keen to get their stuttering campaign back on track, but were unable to turn their greater possession and chances into an equaliser.
The Lilywhites had suffered just one defeat in their previous 11 away games, but the Madejski Stadium again proved an unhappy hunting ground with only one win from 18 visits.
Victory kept Reading 19th and restored their five-point cushion above the bottom three, while Preston's fourth defeat in five dropped them to 11th, six points outside the play-off places.
Reading manager Paul Clement told BBC Berkshire:
"It was an ugly game, but we got there in the end and that's the main thing.
"The players are giving their best effort; they are shutting people down, they are being determined and aggressive.
"In the home games they have really stuck at it and you need that in a relegation battle. You need men, you need people who are going to take responsibility, and all the players are doing that."
Preston boss Alex Neil told BBC Lancashire:
"We conceded the first goal, but from that point we completely controlled the game and created enough chances to get back in it and even win the game.
"I've told the players to stop looking at results and how other teams are playing because unless we win the rest of our games it doesn't matter.
"We have made it really difficult for ourselves now, but all we can do is try to play as well as we can, hopefully score that first goal and that should make the difference for us.
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Mannone
- 2Gunter
- 20Ilori
- 6Moore
- 50RichardsSubstituted forClementat 45'minutes
- 19BacunaBooked at 17mins
- 38KellySubstituted forEvansat 85'minutes
- 14Aluko
- 10SwiftBooked at 60mins
- 17Barrow
- 23BödvarssonSubstituted forMartinat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 4van den Berg
- 8Evans
- 18Kermorgant
- 22Clement
- 27Martin
- 31Jaakkola
- 57Holmes
Preston
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Rudd
- 14FisherBooked at 27mins
- 23Huntington
- 20DaviesBooked at 11minsSubstituted forClarkeat 45'minutes
- 3Cunningham
- 4Pearson
- 8Browne
- 39Bodin
- 37RobinsonSubstituted forHarropat 79'minutes
- 29Barkhuizen
- 21MoultSubstituted forMaguireat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Clarke
- 7Horgan
- 10Harrop
- 12Gallagher
- 22Maxwell
- 24Maguire
- 32Earl
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 15,501
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamPreston
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away20
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 1, Preston North End 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. Tom Barkhuizen (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Darnell Fisher (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Martin (Reading).
Post update
Attempt missed. Ben Pearson (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sone Aluko (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Martin.
Post update
Attempt missed. Billy Bodin (Preston North End) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Pearson.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. George Evans replaces Liam Kelly.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alan Browne (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Josh Harrop with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Sone Aluko.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sone Aluko (Reading) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Pelle Clement with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Josh Harrop replaces Callum Robinson.
Post update
Offside, Reading. Sone Aluko tries a through ball, but Modou Barrow is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Huntington (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Billy Bodin with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Sone Aluko.
Post update
Foul by Tom Clarke (Preston North End).
Post update
Modou Barrow (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Sean Maguire (Preston North End).
Post update
Liam Moore (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
