Pool reign over Royals

A 55th minute goal from Wigan loanee Calum McManaman was enough to gain Blackpool their first win in four games over a resurgent Reading side at Bloomfield Road yesterday afternoon. Reading had a contentious goal disallowed and a strong penalty claim but Ian Holloway`s side walked out with the three points.

Brian McDermott made two enforced changes for his team at the Seaside, bringing in Peterborough match winners Adam Le Fondre and Hal Robson-Kanu for the injured Noel Hunt and suspended Jobi McAnuff. The absence of the captian led to Kapsars Gorkss wearing the armband against his former side.

It was a steady start to the game at Bloomfield Road as Ian Harte almost gifted his former side the lead after a poor backpass that was eventually dealt with by the defence. Shaun Cummings was then forced into a great last ditch tackle as Ferguson and Lua Lua almost found themselves through.

Prolific striker Adam Le Fondre was the super sub against Peterborough on Tuesday night and he had a wonderful chance to open the score on 17 minutes as a great cross from Cummings was somehow headed wide by the former Rotherman man as he was unmarked.

The visitors were then firmly in the ascendency as Jimmy Kebe had a half-chance as he drove past the Tangerines defence but fired his shot wide when under pressure. Kebe almost became the provider as his dangerous ball across was just missed by Robson-Kanu.

Blackpool`s only effort of noting was a 25-yard drive from striker Lua Lua, which sailed over Federici`s crossbar. Reading then had the ball in the net as Church thought he has scored but was given offside, when replays seemed to show he was a few yards onside.

As the half came to a close, Alex Pearce was appeared to be hauled down by a Blackpool defender but the referee gave nothing to the shock of the Royals faithful. The half ended goal less which would frustrate Brian McDermott, considering his side was firmly on top.

After most likely receiving the hair dryer treatment from boss Ian Holloway, the home side came racing out the blocks in the second half. Federici was called into action early, pulling off some good saves, most notably from Slyvestre on 48 minutes.

However, the Blackpool pressure paid off on 55 minutes as they took the lead. Wigan loanee Calum McManaman replaced the recalled Jonjo Shelvey up front and curled a wonderful effort past Adam Federici to give his side the lead with their first effort on target all game.

Reading struggled to recuperate from this and almost conceded a second minutes later as Lua Lua ran through and just pulled his shot wide past the post of Adam Federici. Substitute Mathieu Manset almost made an immediate impact as clever play from Le Fondre set up the Ivorian the striker but couldn’t quite read it.

The Royals really failed to get back into the game from the goal but almost got an equaliser as a header from Manset was kept out by Gilks and eventually cleared to stop le Fondre poaching in. Despite the decent first half showing, Brian McDermott`s men failed to show up in the second half with the hosts capitalising.

Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Evatt, Cathcart, Crainey, M Phillips, McManaman, Ferguson, Sylvestre, Taylor-Fletcher, Lua Lua

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Kebe, Karacan, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Church, Le Fondre