Blackpool 4-1 Reading: Tangerines come from behind to beat Paul Ince's Royals

Gary MadineImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Gary Madine's header was his seventh goal of the season for Blackpool

Blackpool came from behind to overcome struggling Reading with an impressive second-half display at Bloomfield Road.

The Royals seized an early advantage when Lucas Joao netted for the fourth time in three games.

But Marvin Ekpiteta soon headed Blackpool level and Gary Madine put them in front on the hour mark.

Late goals from substitute Shayne Lavery and Josh Bowler wrapped up the Tangerines' first win in five games.

Luke Southwood, back between the posts for Reading after a four-week absence, was soon called into action to push away a half-volley from Jerry Yates, while Bowler fired over from close range.

However, it was the visitors who took a 17th-minute lead when John Swift and Andy Yiadom combined on the left flank to set up the unmarked Joao, who slotted home.

Although Southwood produced a superb stop to foil Madine, Blackpool soon equalised as Kevin Stewart headed on a corner for Ekpiteta to nod into the net.

Another corner brought about the home side's second goal, with Madine climbing above Michael Morrison to head in from close range.

Reading battled hard in response and it needed two smart saves by Dan Grimshaw to keep out Swift and Tom Dele-Bashiru.

But Lavery - who had replaced Yates a few minutes earlier - made it 3-1, collecting Kenny Dougall's pass and firing home before Bowler volleyed into the bottom corner for his fifth goal in seven games.

Blackpool climb a place to 14th in the table, while Reading remain 21st, six points above third-bottom Barnsley.

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"To concede a goal like we did was criminal - it was a really soft goal from a throw-in, but our response to going 1-0 down was excellent.

"The longer the game goes on, the pitch opens up and we've got players who can hurt you in space and I thought we did that.

"We want to be a team that takes the game to the opposition and plays on the front foot and we were still pressing the goalkeeper in the 92nd, 93rd minute.

"Psychologically, it's a really important three points for us."

Reading interim manager Paul Ince told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"It's a bad result, it wasn't a bad performance. I'm not too deflated - just keep believing.

"We know where we are and we've lost a few players, we're switching four or five to try and make a team.

"We gave a poor first goal away - really, really poor. But I said to the lads at half-time 'we're still in the game at 1-1'.

"If we get the second goal, I think we go on to win the game. Up to the last 10 minutes, we were trying to chase it."

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