Reading's top scorer Shaun Goater was left on the bench as Steve Coppell's men went down 2-1 to a last-minute goal against Preston yesterday.

Coppell opted to play just one upfront at Deepdale and overlooked the 12-goal Bermudian, instead choosing to give loan striker Lloyd Owuso the role.

Unfortunately this tactic back-fired when Owuso was red-carded after 48 minutes for a two-footed lunge with Reading already a goal down, leaving Coppell's men with their back to the walls.

John Salako pulled it back in the 82nd minute but David Healy bagged his second of the night for Preston in the 89th minute to leave Reading once again to falter in their play-off charge.

It would have been a frustrating night for Goater, who scored the winner against Sheffield United on Saturday, as he has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks, pinning down a regular start for the side with seven goals in nine games ? and five in the last five.