Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was twice at fault to gift Preston a much-needed win.
Goalkeeping blunders make it easy for homesick North End
Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann will have to shoulder the blame after gifting Preston a win with two errors of judgement.
The Royals had the half-time lead thanks to a disputed early penalty - but had to watch as Hahnemann failed to deal with first an innocent-looking cross and then a late corner to give Preston a first win in five games at Deepdale.
Reading went ahead in the 27th minute after Noel Hunt was felled in the box by Lilywhites defender Sean St Ledger and the Irish striker's brother Stephen stepped up to stroke the ball home from the spot.
But despite consistent pressure from the visitors, the Lilywhites equalised in the 55th minute when Chris Sedgwick's seemingly innocuous cross caused havoc in the Reading area and Ivar Ingimarsson's header crept past hesitant keeper Hahnemann for an own goal.
And the United States international was once again guilty of mis-judgement 10 minutes before full-time as he came and missed Ross Wallace's corner and the ball fell to Stephen Elliott to tap home from close range.
The match had began at a frantic pace with Hahnemann having to be at full stretch to keep former Stoke striker Jon Parkin's effort out.
Steve Coppell's side went even closer when Noel Hunt saw his header slammed back off the bar.
Penalty
But, as the form book would suggest, Reading did eventually take the lead in the 27th minute when the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot after Preston defender St Ledger body checked Noel Hunt in the area.
Preston fans surrounded the referee in objection but their protests were in vain as Stephen Hunt stepped up to send keeper Andy Lonergan the wrong way and make it 1-0.
But, 10 minutes after the restart, the home side were back on level terms in calamitous fashion.
Under little pressure from the Preston strikers, Hahnemann hesitated to come for Sedgwick's cross and defender Ingimarsson's unconvincing header evaded the on-coming keeper and found the back of his own net.
The equaliser seemed to galvanise the visitors and they almost hit-back a minute later.
Jimmy Kebe's driving run and incisive ball into the danger zone found Noel Hunt, whose shot was courageously saved by Lonergan before defender Mawene threw himself in front of Kevin Doyle's follow-up shot.
But Irvine's side continued to threaten and Parkin appeared to be growing in confidence by the minute and when his downward header beat Hahnemann. All it needed was a touch to divert it into the open net but St Ledger could not stretch far enough.
Hahnemann was forced to make further saves from Parkin and a stinging drive from Billy Jones. But he was once again at fault as Preston took an 80th-minute lead.
After a period of intense pressure from the home side, the goalkeeper flapped at Ross Wallace's floated corner and the ball fell to striker Stephen Elliott to tap home from six yards.
