Preston North End break winless home streak against Reading
In a meeting of two sides inching further towards opposite ends of the table as the end of the campaign draws near, it was the hosts that took a hold of proceedings. Preston were hoping to end a barren run of four home H2Hs without victory, and somehow weren’t on their way to doing so after a number of first-half chances.
To begin, two rapid counter attacks were put wide of the post, the first via the head of Potts and the second by the in-form Cannon, who, from the edge of the box, was unable to add to his five goals in five matches.
The onslaught continued, and the Royals even looked to have gotten away with a half-hearted Preston penalty shout. A looping cross from Álvaro Fernández was misjudged by Scott Dann and the ball was seemingly cleared by his arm, though referee John Busby saw nothing wrong.
To close the opening 45 minutes, 23-year-old Nesta Guinness-Walker threw himself in front of two shots, the first from Potts to turn what looked like a certain goal into a corner, then again from the resulting set-piece on the goalline to deny Andrew Hughes.
Guinness-Walker embodied the passion this Reading team will require to avoid relegation given their difficult run-in, but as it stood, they would be rising from the bottom three thanks to goal difference on this Easter Monday.
Still, the constant Lilywhite pressure remained, and after 55 minutes they finally managed to break through Reading’s low block. Fernández was given the freedom of the left wing before playing a ball to Cannon, who then took a touch and calmly side-foot the opener beyond Joe Lumley, meaning five of his last six goals have come between the 50th and 70th minute.
Paul Ince looked on, knowing his club may need a miracle to escape the drop with three of their final five fixtures against sides in the Championship’s top half.
The Royals looked like they had secured just that when substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan equalised with a looping header seven minutes from time, however, they were sent tumbling further into the relegation mire again as Potts punished their defensive frailties in injury-time with a winner for Ryan Lowe’s men. The midfielder had been active in front of goal all game, and finally got his reward as he headed past the flailing Lumley with 92 minutes played.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Brad Potts (Preston North End)
