Preston North End played out a goalless first half with Reading at Deepdale in the Championship this afternoon.

A nice move from Reading early on saw Chris Gunter cross for Matej Vydra, but the delivery was taken off the forward's head by some good defending from Paul Huntington.

Oliver Norwood went close on five minutes when he curled a strike just wide from around 20 yards out, and it was the Royals who started brighter in Lancashire.

However, PNE had the best chance of the early going through Adam Reach, who struck the inside of Jonathan Bond's post with a shot from the outside of his left foot.

Reading continued to push for the opener, and went close via a 30-yard free kick from Nick Blackman.