Preston North End 3 Reading 3

Last updated : 08 January 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Preston and Reading both go into the hat for the FA Cup fourth round draw after battling out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Deepdale.

Reading took the lead in the sixth minute when Michael Jackson fouled Bas Savage on the left wing. Scott Murray hit a right foot left wing free kick over and Shaun Goater headed home from ten yards.

Preston equalised in the ninth minute when Fuller did well on the left wing and from the byline his pass found Brian O'Neil whose 22 yard shot took a wicked deflection off captain Adie Williams and found its way into the corner of the net.

In the unlucky 13th minute a cross from Graeme Murty from the right wing was miss hit by Jackson from eight yards and the ball went into the top right hand corner of the net for an own goal.

Fuller equalised for Preston in the 32nd minute when a David Healy cross from the left wing was met by Fuller at the far post and he looped a header home seven yards.

Reading took the lead again to make it 3-2 in the 36th minute when a Scott Murray cross come shot was deflected by Claude Davis for another own goal from six yards out.

Healy hit the post for Preston in the 39th minute before North End equalised moments later.

Preston made it 3-3 in the 44th minute when Eddie Lewis crossed from the left and Fuller got in a header from close range which went into the bottom left hand corner.

The second half was a dull affair with two bookings and two substitutions by Reading and man of the match Fuller limped off with seven minutes to go.