PNE fans will be hoping it is third time lucky for their side as they battle to cling on to the top spot in Division Two after reaching the league summit for the third time this season.

North End have got to defend their position this weekend away at Reading - the first game away from Deepdale this month.

Reading are something of an unpredictable side. They leak goals readily - 39 in 29 games - but also score quite consistently as well, having knocked 34 against opposition this season in the league. It has left them stranded in 12th place.

But with Preston currently on form the team will be quietly confident they can do some damage to Reading come Saturday afternoon.

PNE chairman Bryan Gray has already indicated his support for the current squad, saying he and manager Moyes will not start panic buying - a saying you here more often from a relegation bound club than from one which, even to the most pessimistic fan, looks certain to be promoted this season.

Having said that, both Moyes and Gray watched North End's reserves lose to Birmingham City at Irongate on Monday, further fuelling rumours the club is about to bid £500,000 for the Blue's transfer listed Nicky Forster.

Gray's real concern is that if the club brings in new players now, they could unwittingly break up a successful team. And with on-loan Steve Basham performing tremendously up front along with Preston's regular front men, it's easy to understand where he is coming from.

Basham scored both goals on Saturday against Wycombe in a game which was overshadowed by Wanderer's new manager, Lawrie Sanchez's petulant temper tantrum on the touchline after his side were awarded a penalty. He was sent up into the stands and faces disciplinary action from the FA.

Manager Moyes also faces an anxious wait to see if winger David Eyres will be fit for Saturday's game. He took a nasty blow to the head after clashing with Wycombe defender Keith Ryan.

Eyres was out cold for two minutes and spent Saturday night in hospital.

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