Royals gaffer Mark delighted with debut win

READING boss Mark Bowen enjoyed a win in his first game as a manager – after 20 years as an assistant.

Bowen had to wait for the winner, scored by Matt Miazga almost nine minutes into added time.

But after so long as an assistant, mostly to Mark Hughes at six different clubs, another eight minutes was not going to hurt.

It was also the Royals’ first victory in seven league games – five of which they lost.

That dismal run resulted in the sacking of Jose Gomes. Bowen stepped up from the job of sporting director and yesterday the Welshman made the management game look – well, not exactly easy, but not as tricky as it had seemed for his predecessor.

“I’d be a liar if I said aid I wasn’t relieved, because e the pressure was on,” said Bowen (right).

“But it’s not about me, it’s about the club. The fans do get behind the team here in the last 20 minutes so I felt we’d be in the ascendancy going into the back half.

“I just didn’t realise it would be the last minute of the game. I’m pleased with the way it turned out. If any team looked like scoring it was us.”

Preston arrived in third place and looked confident early on but found it hard to make any impact up front and North End’s Declan Rudd was by far the busier of the two go goalkeepers.

He saved well from J John Swift’s swerving free- kick, and two shots by impressive L Liverpool loanee Ovie Eja Ejaria.

David Nugent should have put Preston in front when he met Darnell Fisher’s cross with a powerful header that was straight at Reading keeper Rafael Cabral. But Reading kept pressing and finally defender Miazga pounced after Rudd turned aside an excellent long-range effort from Jordan Obita.

“I ’m frustrated and disappointed but we didn’t do enough to win,” Preston boss Alex Neil said.