Darren Ferguson has urged his board to complete the permanent transfer of Iain Hume.
Preston boss impressed by striker; McDermott wanted win
Preston North End boss Darren Ferguson has urged his board to complete the permanent transfer of Iain Hume after the striker produced another impressive display in the 1-1 draw with Reading.
Hume has impressed since joining on loan from Barnsley and made the opener when his dogged run set up Keith Treacy.
But North End - who won 6-4 at Leeds in midweek - were quiet in the second period and saw the Royals claim a deserved point when Jem Karacan powered in a 25-yard half volley, and the hosts then had Darel Russell sent off late on for two bookings.
Ferguson said: "As a club we have to get Iain Hume done and dusted before other clubs start sniffing around.
"He is a great wee lad and we are lucky to have him.
"He is a pest, difficult to play against and has still got the bravery he has always had. He is good in the air and a very good player at this level."
Ferguson, whose side have dragged themselves off the foot of the table with seven points in just over a week, added: "I suppose if I had been offered seven from nine at the beginning of the week I would have taken it.
"But I just felt that it was a really good opportunity today to get three wins on the bounce.
McDermott reaction
"We have shown the character and spirit we have in the squad by digging in when we went down to 10 men. And it has taken a wonder goal for them to get back into it."
Reading boss Brian McDermott felt his side merited the win after dominating at Deepdale.
He said: "I feel a bit frustrated really. I thought at times we played like the home side.
"We tried to go for it like we do in every single game we play.
"Karacan's goal was a fantastic strike. He works on that in training. He is still very young and we are delighted to have him. But it was a top goal. He had to hit it spot on when it was dropping and he caught it so sweet."
McDermott had sympathy for Preston midfielder Russell who was red-carded 12 minutes from time after picking up a second booking from referee Jock Waugh.
He said: "Referees give themselves a problem by booking players early on for innocuous fouls. Maybe they just need to calm down and just take a couple of moments."
