Alex Neil knows Preston have to be more clinical in front of goal at Reading

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The Madejski Stadium clash is a vital one as PNE look to put the Easter defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Derby behind them and keep pace in the play-off race.

Neil says believes side are at the stage of, ‘having to find a way to win’ with results and not displays all that matters.

Neil said: “I have been in situations like this when it has gone in our favour.

“At Norwich there were a couple of games when we scored late goals.

“You find a way to win those games, we just haven’t found a way in the past two matches.

“When chances came our way we just came up a little bit short in terms of putting the ball in the net.

“That as a manager, as a player and as a supporter is soul destroying.

“If you have a look back, Alan Browne had scored two penalties and I don’t think the keeper was within five yards of them.

“If Ben Davies had the header at Sheffield Wednesday again, it would end up in the back of the net.”