Blackpool vs Reading Match Analysis and Prediction

Blackpool will host Reading on Saturday looking ro make the perfect start to their second season back in the Championship.

Meanwhile, the visitors are aiming to enjoy a campaign further away from the relegation zone having narrowly avoided dropping into the third tier in the 2021-22 season.

At some point this summer, Blackpool were preparing for their second campaign in the Championship with Neil Critchley looking to improve on last season’s 16th-placed finish.

However, he eventually departed the club and moved to Aston Villa to become Steven Gerrard’s new assistant, leading to Michael Appleton being handed his second opportunity in the Bloomfield Road dugout.

Three additions in the form of Lewis Fiorini, Rhys Williams and Dominic Thompson have now been made with Theo Corbeanu on the verge of joining them from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There will be some fans who are bitterly regreting the untimely departure of Critchly at a time when he appeared to be building something special with Blackpool, but there are fresh reasons for optimism this time around.

Although the Tangerines recorded three wins and three losses during pre-season, Appleton will take encouragement from pushing Everton last weekend before eventually losing 4-2.

Paul Ince’s managerial career had looked all but done after eight years away from the dugout, but he was surprisingly appointed as the interim manager of Reading during the back end of last season.

While he recorded just four wins and three draws from 14 matches, it was enough to retain Reading’s status in the Championship, the powers-that-be being suitably impressed to hand the former Blackpool manager an extended stint.

Reading have signed former Royals forward Shane Long while much is expected from Nottingham Forest loanee Tyrese Fornah.

The enjoyed a solid pre-season, drawing 1-1 with West Ham United and only losing to Benfica and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Blackpool vs Reading head to head

The two teams have previously met on 22 occasions across all competitions, where Blackpool have claimed six victories while Reading have won 10, and they have drawn in six. Blackpool have scored 24 goals and conceded 38. In their last five meetings, Reading have won one, Blackpool two with two draws.

Blackpool 1-1 Reading 07/04/15

Reading 2-2 Blackpool 04/01/20

Blackpool 0-2 Reading 14/01/20

Reading 2-3 Blackpool 20/10/21

Blackpool 4-1 Reading 26/02/22

Blackpool latest home form

Blackpool have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, as they have won just one of their six most recent matches. They lost 4-2 to Everton in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded 13.

Blackpool 1-4 Nottingham Forest 02/04/22

Blackpool 6-1 Birmingham City 18/04/22

Blackpool 0-2 Derby County 30/04/22

Blackpool 1-2 Rangers 16/07/22

Blackpool 2-4 Everton 24/07/22

Blackpool latest away form

Blackpool have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just two of their six most recent matches. They defeated Salford City 1-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded nine.

Barnsley 0-2 Blackpool 26/04/22

Peterborough United 5-0 Blackpool 07/05/22

Southport 0-2 Blackpool 02/07/22

Leeds United 4-0 Blackpool 07/07/22

Salford City 0-1 Blackpool 19/07/22

Reading latest home form

Reading have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their eight most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded five.

Reading 2-0 Colchester United 02/07/22

Reading 0-2 Benfica 09/07/22

Reading 4-0 Maidenhead United 12/07/22

Reading 1-1 West Ham United 16/07/22

Reading 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion 23/07/22

Reading latest away form

Reading have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their eight most recent matches. They managed to defeat AFC Wimbledon 2-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded six.

Barnsley 1-1 Reading 02/04/22

Sheffield United 1-2 Reading 15/04/22

Hull City 3-0 Reading 23/04/22

Luton Town 1-0 Reading 07/05/22

AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Reading 19/07/22

Blackpool news

The duo of Corbeanu and Thompson should be signed in time by the hosts but they are likely to start their Blackpool stints on the substitutes’ bench.

However, Rhys Williams and Lewis Florini are expected to feature in a team which could be similar to the one named for the game against Everton.

Reading news

Reading will take to the pitch without the services of Lucas Joao, who sustained a knee injury during the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

There is indication that the same lineup will be selected that would see Jeff Hendrick, Fornah, Sam Hutchinson and Joe Lumley all handed their competitive debuts.

Prediction and Odds

With both teams still in the process of adding onto their respective squads, we are not sure of the exact lineups to expect in the contest at Bloomfield Road.

However, this feels like a match between two evenly-matched sides, which leads us to predict a share of the spoils on Saturday.

Odds: 1 2.26 X 2.05 2 2.20

Probable outcomes

Blackpool 0-0 Reading

Blackpool 1-1 Reading

Blackpool 2-2 Reading

Blackpool 3-3 Reading

Blackpool 0-1 Reading