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ALI AL-HABSI was deservingly named Player of the Year before Saturday’s game with Preston North End.
Yet a performance which showed just exactly why he got his hands on the accolade was unable to inspire Reading to victory at Madejski Stadium this afternoon.
The Omani produced a number of fine stops to keep the away side at bay – only to be harshly denied a clean sheet when Jermaine Beckford pounced on a moment’s hesitation between the ‘keeper and Paul McShane to open the scoring in the second half.
Despite producing an indifferent performance, Royals did level things up on 86 minutes via a fine Stephen Quinn strike, but were dealt a sickening late blow when Dan Johnson struck in stoppage time to seal North End the win.
This narrow loss, a fifth in six games for the hosts, brought the home campaign to an end on a disappointing note.
But it could have been much worse for Royals, who were lucky not to be behind by a canter during a first half which saw Preston fail to make the most of a hatful of chances which fell their way.
The introduction of Josh Barrett from the bench, though, gave Reading a huge lift after the break, with the youngster involved in everything going forward – and was unlucky not to notch himself during a performance which warranted a goal.
And his 45-minute cameo should give Royals fans hope for the future, for this will be seen by many as a season which cannot end quick enough.
Boss Brian McDermott made three changes from the side which ended a run of four straight defeats with last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers.
There was an immediate return to the line-up for both captain Paul McShane and Danny WIlliams, who had completed their recent three-match bans for violent conduct, while Chris Gunter rejoined the fold following a recent injury.
The trio replaced Andy Taylor, Anton Ferdinand and Simon Cox, who were all named among the substitutes.
There was also a place on the bench for Academy graduate Tennai Watson, who filled one of the voids left by Michael Hector and Lucas Piazon, who were recalled from their respective loans from Chelsea earlier in the week.
Despite a rather non-descript opening to contest, Reading did have the ball in the back of the net on 10 minutes, but Jake Cooper was adjudged to be offside when climbing highest to divert Oliver Norwood’s free-kick into the corner.
This came shortly after Deniss Rakels saw an opportunity diverted away for a corner when slipped in by Chris Gunter, who was operating at left back.
But Royals were arguably second best during the opening half as Preston were left wondering how a string of guilt-edge opportunities went begging.
Beckford was guilty of missing the best of these on 20 minutes.
A slip from Cooper when trying to bring a clearance under control allowed the striker to nip in and race towards goal.
He had the time to wait for Al Habsi to commit himself, but the shot-stopper was to win this duel, getting a strong hand to keep out Beckford’s chipped attempt.
This was amid a flurry of openings to fall North End’s way, with fellow forward Joe Garner dragging another strike wide when gliding his way into the box.
Yet it was all too easy for the player, with Garner relatively unchallenged before pulling the trigger.
It was another let off for the hosts, but back again came the away side, with Johnson pulling a 20-yard drive only just wide of an upright before becoming the latest to be denied by Al-Habsi not long after.
Questions were again asked of the Reading defending, which this time failed to clear its lines, with a loose ball being picked up by the midfielder, whose low strike looked to be squeezing inside a post, only for the club’s best player this year to turn it out for a corner.
He was also on hand to swallow up a Paul Gallagher cross-cum-shot which could have caused problems.
While sloppy in possession and looking shaky at the back, a blocked Rakels shot gave the home support something to shout about, while two 50-50 tackles won by Yann Kermorgant – one of which yielding an unpunished cross from Chris Gunter – offered some encouragement.
Up until now, however, Reading were not wrapping up their home campaign with a performance worth shouting about.
McDermott used the break to introduce Josh Barrett from the bench, with Evans the man to make way.
And the Academy product would have an immediate impact, firstly sending Williams racing towards goal, only to be denied a strike by a recovering defender.
The 17-year-old then sprayed a gorgeous pass to an unmarked Rakels out on the left, with the Latvian driving into the box before trying to knock the ball under Chris Kirkland, but the Preston ‘keeper would turn the effort out for a corner.
An overhit Cooper pass resulted in Beckford firing over under pressure, but the former Leeds United and Everton man was not to be denied his goal, which arrived in the 56th minute.
And from North End’s perspective it was a gift.
Hesitation between McShane and Al Habsi as to who was dealing with a Johnson flick on allowed Beckford to poach, nipping in between both and nudging the ball into the corner.
Royals’ response was swift, but McCleary could only fire way over when presented with a sight of goal from some 20 yards out.
Barrett then elected to shoot when in acres of space and lurking on the edge of the box, but could only fire wide.
He would go even closer later in the half and it was only a matter of millimetres which denied the youngster a first goal in senior football.
Initiated by Kermorgant, who won the ball just inside the Preston half, the move was carried on by Quinn, who marauded forward before laying off to Barrett, but could only watch on as his low drive rolled past the wrong side of a post.
Kermorgant would go close himself with a header and curling effort, but it was not looking like the hosts’ day in front of goal, with Kirkland rarely troubled apart from when thwarting Rakels earlier in the half.
Yet the former England international was to be beaten when Quinn popped up to grab an equaliser Reading’s second-half performance probably deserved.
And it was some strike from the Irishman, who needed no second invitation when taking a swing at an inviting Kermorgant lay-off, which he dispatched into the bottom corner from a fully 20 yards.
Despite all that had preceded, McDermott’s men were now going for the win, with that man Barrett again going close, but his bid to secure victory was snuffed out by a smart Kirkland stop, with a team-mate clearing the rebound.
And with it went the game.
The phases of play which followed would see Preston work the ball up to Adam Reach, who did well over in the left corner to wriggle his way into space before teeing up Johnson to sweep home.
Reading are now without a win since defeating Nottingham Forest 2-1 on April 5 – some seven games ago, picking up just a point in the process.
They only have next Saturday’s trip to Blackburn Rovers to try and arrest such a run.
READING: Al Habsi, Gunter, Quinn, McShane (c), Cooper, Evans (Barrett 46), Norwood, Williams, McCleary, Rakels, Kermorgant
Subs not used: Bond, Taylor, Vydra, Ferdinand, Cox, Watson
Goal: Quinn 86
PRESTON NORTH END: Kirkland, Woods, Huntington, Wright, Cunningham (Vermijl 66), Reach, Gallagher (c), Johnson, Browne, Garner (Doyle 84), Beckford (Hugill 85)
Subs not used: Pearson, Kilkenny, Robinson, Hudson
Goals: Beckford 56, Johnson 90+1
Referee: Darren Deadman
Attendance: 15,834 (778 away).
