READING FC went down to a home defeat to Preston North End after a brace from Ched Evans.
After a flat first-half, Evans nodded his team in front shortly after the restart before Lucas Joao’s penalty put the game back on level terms.
With just over 10 minutes to play, Evans was given room to shoot and took advantage to smash the ball low into the far corner.
The defeat leaves Reading in 11th position in the Championship.
Paul Ince made two switches from the team that earned a goalless draw at Luton Town on Tuesday night as Tom McIntyre and Mamadou Loum returned to the side in place of Amadou Mbengue and Ovie Ejaria.
The Royals have picked up just five points in their last seven games as they faced their third game in just six days at home to Preston.
Meanwhile, the visitors had picked up three wins in their last four matches heading into their trip to Berkshire.
It was a first-half that had very little in the way of chances for both teams.
Both teams were surrendering possession far too easily which saw attacks frequently break down before they had a chance to get into full flow.
A drifted Andy Yiadom cross left Yakou Meite with plenty to do as the Ivorian headed harmlessly wide.
After Preston failed to properly clear a corner the ball dropped for Andy Carroll on the volley who smacked the ball high and wide.
Robbie Brady picked up the first booking of the game when he scythed down Tom Ince on the halfway line to prevent a breakaway.
The best chance of the half came just after half an hour when Brady whipped a ball to the back post to find the run of Brad Potts who didn’t manage to get his boot to the ball which saw the chance go begging.
Junior Hoilett tried his luck when he cut in from the right, but he wasn’t able to wrap his foot around the ball properly and it flew wide.
The final shot of the half came from Brady which forced a save at the near post from Joe Lumley, but there was no time for the visitors to take the corner as the team’s went in goalless at the break.
The away team grabbed the initiative quickly after the restart when Ched Evans met Brady’s cross and flicked the ball past Lumley into the far corner.
Clearly unimpressed with the opening 15 minutes of the half, Ince made a triple change. Shane Long, Lucas Joao and Tyrese Fornah replaced Carroll, Meite and Loum.
Preston made their first switch in the 65th minute which saw Ben Woodburn take the place of Daniel Johnson.
Trying to force their way back into the game, a half chance came Reading’s way only for Joao to head over the target.
Reading found their way back into the game via the penalty spot after Ince’s through ball set Yiadom on the run and the referee deemed that he was tripped after he had got goal side of Brady.
Lucas Joao took responsibility and slammed the ball confidently into the bottom left corner and left goalkeeper Freddie Woodman no chance of stopping it despite guessing the right way.
With a little over 10 minutes to go, Preston restored their lead when Evans wasn’t closed down on the right and he fizzed a driven shot into the far corner.
Reading’s fourth change of the match saw Nesta Guiness-Walker replace Rahman.
Ince went close to levelling the game up once again in the 88th minute when his low strike went a whisker wide of the post.
Preston held on throughout six minutes of added time to claim the points.
Reading: Lumley, McIntyre, Holmes (c), Yiadom, Rahman, Hoilett, Loum, Hendrick, Ince, Meite, Carroll
Subs: Bouzanis, Mbengue, Guinness-Walker, Fornah, Ejaria, Long, Joao
Preston: Woodman, Lindsay, Storey, Hughes, Potts, Browne (c), Ledson, Brady, Johnson, Evans, Riis
Subs: Cornell, Cunningham, Fernandez, Diaby, McCann, Woodburn, Maguire
Goals: Evans 51’, 79’, Joao 71’ (pen),
