READING FC are still awaiting their first league win of the calendar year and will be hoping they find success in Blackpool on Saturday.
With off the pitch turmoil from the club’s ownership still plaguing the club, the Royals gave fans reasons to be hopeful with matters on the pitch with their comeback win over Bolton Wanderers last weekend.
Reading has been deducted four points already this season because of financial mismanagement from club owner Dai Yongge. Ruben Selles’ side are on five points despite having won three of their opening seven league matches.
Blackpool have made a steady start to life in League One having joined Reading in falling out of the Championship last season.
Neil Cricthley’s side have won two, drawn three and lost two of their first seven matches which puts them on nine points in 14th.
Critchley is back at the helm for Blackpool in his second spell in charge having originally departed the Tangerines at the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign to join Steven Gerrard’s coaching team at Aston Villa.
Blackpool are currently unbeaten at Bloomfield Road with wins over Burton Albion and Wigan Athletic and draws against Port Vale and Leyton Orient.
However, their away form has told a different story after they lost 2-0 to Wycombe Wanderers last weekend.
On their last trip to Blackpool in the opening day of last season’s Championship campaign, Paul Ince’s Reading team lost 1-0
Reading got the better of Blackpool in the reverse fixture in February at the Select Car Leasing Stadium with a Tom Ince brace and an Andy Carrroll goal.
Selles is hoping to have both Lewis Wing and Sam Smith back in contention for the game.
Smith has missed out on making his first competitive appearance in his second spell since re-joining Reading from Cambridge United in the summer with a quad injury.
Mamadi Camara is still being treated for a hamstring injury which is expected to keep him out for at least another three weeks.
Nesta Guinness-Walker is also out with a hamstring injury and is unlikely to be fit to face Blackpool, while Ovie Ejaria is still injured with no known return date as of yet.
Predicted Reading line-up: Button, Yiadom, Abbey, Bindon, Mbengue, Hutchinson, Savage, Knibbs, Azeez, Vickers, Ehibhatiomhan
