Tom’s Bark in business to step up play-off bid
TOM BARKHUIZEN’S double helped Preston cruise to victory as their march towards the Championship play-offs continued.
The striker put Simon Grayson’s side ahead before Daryl Horgan doubled the gap in the 40th minute and Barkhuizen added his second in the 49th minute.
Preston are six points off the top six and Barkhuizen has notched four goals in his last three appearances, while Reading slipped to their third defeat in five games.
North End took the lead in the 31st minute when Horgan raced away from Tyler Blackett down the right and set up Barkhuizen who curled home a sublime effort.
He helped make it two after leading a counter-attack and teeing up Horgan. His first effort was blocked by Jordan Obita but the Irishman tucked away the follow-up.
Preston grabbed their third when Horgan’s free-kick was headed across goal by Andy Boyle and Barkhuizen prodded home his second.
Lewis Grabban darted into the box and cut back for Yann Kermorgant but the striker was put off by Ben Pearson.
Preston nearly added a fourth when Aiden McGeady’s free-kick floated just wide while the Everton loanee’s cross moments later missed a diving Jordan Hugill by inches.
A clever free-kick routine saw McGeady pass to Daniel Johnson who found Greg Cunningham to drill off target with 20 minutes left.
Grayson said: “I’m delighted when you beat somebody who are in the play-off positions 3-0, keep a clean sheet, with very good individual performances and could have had a lot more goals if we’d taken our chances.
“We’ve got nine games to go, if we win the next nine we might have a chance of catching the teams above us.
“Wherever we finish, we’ll have had a great season.”
Reading boss Jaap Stam said: “Sometimes if you can’t play nice or in a way that you want to do it, then just launch that ball into the stands. You need to be decisive and we didn’t do that and that’s why we give goals away.”