Joe Garner's penalty was enough for Preston North End as they edged out Reading 1-0 at Deepdale in the Championship today.
A nice move from Reading early on saw Chris Gunter cross for Matej Vydra, but the delivery was taken off the forward's head by some good defending from Paul Huntington.
Oliver Norwood went close on five minutes when he curled a strike just wide from around 20 yards out and it was the Royals who started brighter in Lancashire.
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However, it was PNE who had the best chance of the early going through Adam Reach who struck the inside of Jonathan Bond's post with the outside of his left foot.
Reading continued to push for the opener, and went close via a 30-yard free kick from Nick Blackman.
The home side had their lead shortly into the second period when Garner was bundled over inside the box by Paul McShane.
Garner picked himself up to dispatch from 12 yards for his third goal in four games for North End.
The Royals pressed to restore parity and Norwood should have made it 1-1 when he fired over from close range after Blackman had seen a shot saved.
Garner came close to doubling his tally for the afternoon when he headed just wide from Paul Gallagher's cross on 71 minutes.
Preston had goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to thank for keeping them in the lead when he denied Vyrda on 74 minutes.
Paul Gorst
