Brady assists Evans match-winner as Preston move into Championship top-six

Republic of Ireland international Robbie Brady claimed an assist as Preston climbed into the Sky Bet Championship top-six with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over fellow play-off chasers Reading at the SCL Stadium.

Brady, who marked an 18-month absence from the international fold with a late match-winning penalty against Armenia in September, has kept up his fine run of form, delivering a sublime free-kick delivery met by the head of Ched Evans with nine minutes remaining to seal victory.

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In a drab first half, Preston midfielder Brad Potts squandered the best opportunity when miskicking wide from close range but the game livened up after the interval, with Evans putting North End ahead in the 51st minute.

Reading levelled 20 minutes later through a Lucas Joao penalty but Evans grabbed his second – and the winner – with 11 minutes remaining.

North End started the game in eighth place, one point off the play-off spots after a run of five victories in eight outings.

But with both teams playing their third game in seven days, neither created much of note in the scrappy opening exchanges.

Reading did manage to force the first corner, in the ninth minute, in a rare moment of intent.

But Junior Hoilett's delivery from the set-piece was poor and allowed Brady to head clear at the near post.

Preston were pegged back again soon after, when home captain Andy Yiadom slung over a cross from the right and Yakou Meite rose alone but his ambitious looping header failed to trouble Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and drifted well wide.

As the visitors continued to sit back, Andy Carroll was similarly wasteful with a wild volley from just outside the area.

Preston finally got their act together going forward, shortly after the