Tangerines fall short at Car Select Leasing Stadium

The Royals hosted Blackpool FC at the Car Select Leasing Stadium for weekday 34 clash ending 3–1 for Reading FC. Both teams going into this tie were under pressure as both teams are having a disappointing season, with Reading FC having a record of one win and two draws since the start of the year and Blackpool FC only having one win and three draws. The Royals were in a much more comfortable position heading into the clash being nine points clear of the the relegation zone with 41 points in 33 games, making them the favourites of the two. Blackpool on the other hand are under pressure as they are in the relegation zone with only 31 points in 33 games this season.

Andy Carroll taking a penalty for Reading FC. Picture by Reading FC.

Although the host being the favourites marginally, the Tangerines looked decent from the beginning, but it wasn’t for too long when Tom Ince gave the lead in the 12th minute making it 1–0 as he dribbled into the box weaving past the opponent and unleashed a shot which took a deflection and went past Blackpool's keeper Christopher Maxwell. The Tangerines were forced to make an early substitution when Shayne Lavery picked up an injury in the 21st minute that Ian Poveda replaced him. The visiting team only noted one shot on target in the first 45 minutes coming close to scoring when Gary Madine half volley got deflected.

Going into the second half, the Royals were in a much more comfortable position being 1–0 up; the Tangerines although looked like a better side in the first 20 minutes of the second half. But it was Reading who hit back on the counter by Yakou Méïté running into the box which he got fouled and won a penalty for Reading in the 70th minute. Andy Carroll slotted it powerfully into the bottom right corner from the spot sending the keeper the wrong way making it 2–0 for the home team. Blackpool looked rattled when just after two minutes when Méïté charged into the box and tried to pass it across goal to his teammates, but his pass was cleared which was perfectly lined up for Ince which he beautifully fired a shot on the volley to make it 3–0 in the 72nd minute. Blackpool tried to fight back when Luke Garbutt effort from outside the box just whiskered over the bar.

The game should have finished 3–0; however Reading clumsy defending in final minutes has led for the Tangerines to get a consolation goal in the extra time which that Sonny Carey fired a shot past Joe Lumley which he was furious from his defenders to not keep a clean sheet. The result sees Ince’s side just nine points off playoffs with 44 points. Meanwhile, Mick McCarthy’s Blackpool side are rooted in being second from the bottom in the relegation zone with 31 points with four points away from safety.