RICHARD Cresswell used his head to give Preston only their second win of the season at Deepdale and Lady Luck seems to have returned too!

Just 24 hours before the start of the game, Cresswell was at A&E after sustaining a suspected broken foot in training.

In between him going to hospital and coming back, Craig Brown had been forced to recall young striker Pawell Abbott from Bury to make sure there were two fit attackers for this game.

But then came the news Brown had been hoping for Cresswell hadn't broken it after all and could play, albeit not fully fit.

It was the sort of luck which has eluded Preston all season, and was still present 12 minutes into the game when former Preston target Nicky Forster beat Chris Lucketti and struck the ball, only for it to ricochet back out again.

Ten minutes later and the fans really had something to cheer about.

A right-footed cross from Eddie Lewis was headed home by Cresswell past Marcus Hahnemann.

Lewis's performance was outstanding throughout the game. By no means was this the sort of self-assured performance by the whole midfield which will answer the critics, but it should quieten their mutterings thanks to the likes of Lewis, who seems to get better as each game goes along.

David Lucas, in the goal for North End, also had a blinder as he pulled off a number of important saves after his defence had let in Reading.

Forster set up an almost perfect would-be equaliser had Tony Rougier manager to get his head to the cross.

And in the dying seconds of the first half, Preston should have been two up. Chris Lucketti saw his effort cleared off the line.

For once, Preston closed the opposition in the second half, limiting Reading's options.

David Healy, who had several chances in the first half, and Cresswell were substituted on 71 minutes for Abbott and makeshift striker Tyrone Mears.

Both looked lively and had chances, but like the rest of North End, seemed to fall foul of a series of astonishing decisions by the referee.

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