Reading beat Preston North End

On a day when the club remembered former Academy guru Eamonn Dolan impeccably, Royals produced an on-field display which offers much hope for the season.

Stam gave debuts to Joey Van den Berg at centre-half alongside captain Paul McShane, while Swift started in the centre of midfield and Dutchman Roy Beerens was given a roving role on both wings.

Reading began well and had an early chance when Garath McCleary cut the ball back from the right byline, but after Beerens missed his kick from 12 yards out, Jordan Obita's shot was blocked.

Preston had the ball in the net at the other end shortly after, although it was chalked off due to Joe Garner using his hand to control the ball in the build-up.

The same player then let fly from 25 yards, only to see the ball sail harmlessly wide of Ali Al Habsi's goal, before Royals had two fine chances of their own.

Firstly, Chris Gunter's cut-back found John Swift eight yards out, but the former Chelsea man pushed his effort wide of the right-hand post.

Almost immediately, the impressive Beerens floated a cross in from the left, but Deniss Rakels' header also went wide to the right.

The hosts had a half-hearted penalty appeal for handball turned down when Beerens let fly from the edge of the box, but Stam's men took a deserved lead on 35 minutes.

A move straight from the training ground saw McCleary pass the ball into the box, with Swift coming towards it and unleashing a ferocious right-footed strike into the top right-hand corner.

Paul McShane was booked shortly after for a foul on Greg Cunningham, and from the resulting free-kick Al Habsi easily collected a looping Tom Clarke header.

The Preston captain then had to be on his mettle at the other end, McCleary's brilliant run seeing him beat four men before trying to find Beerens, only for Clarke to make a superb cover tackle.

Reading continued to dominate the closing stages of the half, going in to the break 1-0 up having had an astonishing 82 per cent of the first-half possession.

Royals' midfielder George Evans was booked for a late challenge on Daniel Johnson early in the second half, and the Preston midfielder then had a glorious chance to level matters when he was free on the edge of the area, only for Al Habsi to make a fine save with his feet.

At the other end the irrepressible Beerens then cut in from the left, but his shot deflected kindly into Anders Lindgaard's gloves.

Royals' fans were left nervous on the hour mark when Obita went down injured, but he got back to his feet shortly before Garner's header looped over the bar when he should have done better.

The hosts should have made the game shortly after, only for Rakels to offer an early contender for miss of the season. The Latvian was found just six yards out with only Lindgaard to beat by a fine Swift pass, but he inexplicably tapped it straight into the keeper's body with the goal at his mercy.

Tennai Watsn was handed a Royals debut on 66 minutes when Obita was forced off, with new signing Callum Harriott and Yann Kermorgant also entering the fray in the second half.

Harriott almost made an immediate impression when his fizzing cross was almost turned into his own net by Paul Huntington, while Lindgaard had to tip over an inswinging corner.

At the other end, Al Habsi fumbled a cross in the 86th minute, but Watson flung himself in the way of the ball to preserve the home side's lead.

Preston pushed for an underserved late equaliser, with a couple of scrambles in the Reading box, but Stam's men were able to hang on to take their first three points of the campaign.

Reading host Plymouth in the League Cup on Tuesday (8pm).