Reading finally opened their account this weekend with a strong 3-2 victory over surprise strugglers Preston North End.

On many coupons across the country, Preston would have been down as a banker. Reading have struggled to make an impression on games and are seemingly set for a season of struggle.

Their league position perhaps isn't as reflective of their plight as some of the sides around them. Whilst Ipswich have been relatively poor all season and QPR looked shocking, Reading haven't had the rub of the green.

In amongst the comfortable defeats there's been hard-fought games against Derby and Blackburn which could and should have produced more points than they did.

They've now shaken off the winless tag, courtesy of Leandro Bacuna's 81st minute winner, the third time they had led in a thrilling game. Their opening goal was bagged by Sam Baldock and it is the £2m capture from Brighton who receives our FLW spotlight.

Baldock secured a summer move from the Premier League, arriving as the man who could help his side to the right end of the Championship table. he bagged goals as Brighton were promoted a couple of years ago, but had fallen out of favour.

He played the full 90 minutes at the weekend, but his big moment came in the 23rd minute. He struck a clinical effort to give the Royals a lead against the run of play.

It was one goal in five, but it contributed to the overall win. Daniel Johnson levelled matters eight minutes later before Portuguese defender Tiago Ilori netted his first Reading goal to restore the lead. Callum Robinson tapped in a equaliser before Bacuna gave Paul Clement's side the win.

As for Baldock, his involvement slowed after the goal. He was caught offside once and he won one aerial duel, but much of his contribution was done and dusted after he scored.

He made 13 passes throughout the game, 77% of which landed at the feet of a team mate, Other than that he was quiet, having already done what he needed to do.

Reading will hope it is the first goal of many, as will Baldock. For now though, they'll both just be happy to have secured that all-important first win.