Last updated on .From the section Championship

Lucas Joao has now scored six goals in 18 appearances in the Championship for Reading this season

Reading shocked promotion-chasing Preston North End with two goals in four first-half minutes to secure victory at Deepdale.

John Swift opened the scoring for the visitors, placing Tyler Blackett's cut-back beyond Preston goalkeeper Declan Rudd.

And four minutes later Blackett was on hand again, playing in Lucas Joao to calmly doubled the Royals' lead.

Alex Neil's side pushed hard for a reply but were repeatedly denied by Royals keeper Rafael Cabral as they succumbed to their first defeat in five games.

Preston had lost their four previous league matches against Reading going into the fixture, but nearly went ahead after seven minutes with Brad Potts seeing his first-time shot saved by Cabral.

Mark Bowen's Royals seized the initiative, though, with their double strike against the run of play and were nearly 3-0 up when Joao's tap-in was flagged for offside after Oviemuno Ejaria had struck a long-range effort against the post.

Billy Bodin nearly reduced the deficit either side of half-time, first smashing a volley over the bar from Andrew Hughes' tantalising cross and then forcing Cabral into a stunning save from 25 yards in the 47th minute.

Cabral was kept busy, saving Tom Clarke's powerful header with his feet, and keeping out a Sean Maguire header from a Paul Gallagher cross late-on.

The result meant Preston dropped out of the play-off places on goal difference, while Reading rose to 14th in the Championship table.

Preston North End manager Alex Neil said:

"The only difficulty that we had was that we couldn't score.

"I think if you look at the statistics and the way the game was played it was a smash and grab. They have come here and made themselves hard to beat.

"We probably created more chances today than any of the games that we have played at home."

Reading boss Mark Bowen said:

"I'm delighted, it's the fourth clean sheet in a row.

"It's the third win in a row, and the manner of it is good, coming to a really difficult place with the best defensive record in this league. I thought the goals we scored were through really slick, crisp passing.

"But these players are a group of players who are ready to work and push up this table."