NICKY Forster once again came back to haunt North End - the club which tried so hard to sign him - with a hat-trick which should help see Reading into the play-offs.
Forster started his damage moments after Michael Jackson was sent off for his second bookable - within 30 minutes of the start for fouls on John Salako and Forster - and went on to grab a second before half time.
His first was a rebound from Glen Little's shot at David Lucas, set up by Luke Chadwick.
Forster got on to the end of a Salako pass to fire home his second.
North End should have been in front even before Forster saw the goal, but on 15 minutes Paul McKenna blasted over Graham Alexander's free kick.
Nicky Shorey made it three from the spot when Lucas was ordered off for bringing fown Glen Little on 57 minutes. Lucas had played well up to that point, denying Forster on the 10th minute.
Jonathan Gould, who replaced Lucas as North End shuffled their out-field pack, was the sent the wrong way for the penalty.
Sixty seconds after that penalty Forster converted Adrian Williams' pass from six yards to seal his hat-trick and the points.
Tyrone Mears hit a 30 yard consolation for Preston. A great goal it was, end of the Reading rout it was not, for Darius Henderson tapped home deep into stoppage time.
READING 5 PRESTON 1
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