Match ends, Reading 3, Blackpool 2.
Blackpool's League One play-off hopes were left in tatters by Reading, who finished a miserable campaign off the field with a thumping on-field high.
The Seasiders needed results to go their way and to win themselves to make the top six, and made a perfect start when Karamoko Dembele scuffed a Kyle Joesph touch-off past goalkeeper Joel Pereira.
However, the storyline flipped as score-lines from Exeter and Barnsley went against the visitors, and with it the resurgent Royals wiped out the lead when Sam Smith leapt to steer a header beyond Dan Grimshaw from a fine Harvey Knibbs in-swinger.
Reading continued to improve through the second-half too, despite chances for Blackpool's Hayden Coulson whose effort soared over, and the hosts got their reward.
First Knibbs guided a fine finish into the top corner after Sam Smith and Mamadi Camara teed up the opportunity, and two minutes later it was game over as Femi Azeez was picked out from a dangerous left-wing cross and had the freedom to slide past Grimshaw for the crucial third.
In added time, Jordan Gabriel steered a poor clearance by Pereira back past him for a freak fifth of the afternoon to give the travelling support a modicum of hope and reduce arrears.
There were away shouts of a penalty as Albie Morgan's cross was blocked in the box, and might have hit a hand, but referee Ben Speedie waved play on.
Speedie's whistle after seven minutes of added time brought the sizeable home crowd to its feet, and ended Tangerine dreams of a 10th play-off campaign in their history.
Given the negativity which has come in tandem with issues relating to owner Dai Yongge, and the on-field results which seemed to mirror those difficulties, Reading have done remarkably to finish in the relative comfort of midtable.
In November they were 10 points adrift and bottom of the table, but Ruben Selles and his players have turned things around, picking up priceless wins at home to Cambridge and away to Bristol Rovers and draws with play-off chasers Barnsley and Lincoln.
Signings like Smith, Knibbs and Wing have been key, while Azeez's talent has thrived as the confidence within the squad has grown too.
Neil Critchley led Blackpool to success in the play-offs back in 2020-21 but he was unable to work his magic this campaign despite taking their hopes to the final day.
The future for the Tangerines depends on whether they can replace or re-recruit loanees such as Bakayoko, who picked up a number of individual honours at the club's awards night, George Byers and Hayden Coulson, who helped the club to the cusp of a promotion push.
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Castro Pereira
- 2MolaSubstituted forAbrefaat 84'minutes
- 27Mbengue
- 24BindonSubstituted forHolmesat 76'minutes
- 20Dorsett
- 4ElliottSubstituted forSavageat 76'minutes
- 29Wing
- 11AzeezSubstituted forWarehamat 84'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 7Knibbs
- 15EhibhatiomhanSubstituted forCaba Camaráat 66'minutes
- 10Smith
Substitutes
- 1Button
- 3Holmes
- 8Savage
- 19Wareham
- 28Caba Camará
- 30Abrefa
- 36Craig
Blackpool
Formation 3-5-2
- 32Grimshaw
- 5Pennington
- 21Ekpiteta
- 3Husband
- 22HamiltonSubstituted forLawrence-Gabrielat 78'minutes
- 11Dembélé
- 7ByersSubstituted forNorburnat 77'minutes
- 10CareySubstituted forMorganat 77'minutes
- 15Coulson
- 9JosephSubstituted forVirtueat 84'minutes
- 18Beesley
Substitutes
- 1O'Donnell
- 4Lawrence-Gabriel
- 6Norburn
- 8Morgan
- 17Virtue
- 20Casey
- 35Emmerson
- Referee:
- Ben Speedie
- Attendance:
- 18,480
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 3, Blackpool 2.
Booking
Jayden Wareham (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jayden Wareham (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Sam Smith with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel (Blackpool).
Post update
Jeriel Dorsett (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jake Beesley (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Albie Morgan with a cross.
Goal!
Goal! Reading 3, Blackpool 2. Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel (Blackpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Hayden Coulson (Blackpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matty Virtue.
Post update
Offside, Blackpool. Hayden Coulson is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Kelvin Abrefa replaces Clinton Mola.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Jayden Wareham replaces Femi Azeez.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Matty Virtue replaces Kyle Joseph.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jake Beesley (Blackpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Albie Morgan with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Jeriel Dorsett (Reading).
Post update
Karamoko Dembélé (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sam Smith (Reading) header from very close range is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Harvey Knibbs with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel replaces CJ Hamilton.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Albie Morgan replaces Sonny Carey.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Oliver Norburn replaces George Byers.
Comments
Join the conversation
Well done Ruben……..and nobody would’ve said that November/December of last year…….but you’ve put up with some frustrating stuff, changed and finished strong.
Onwards and upwards !
What Reading have achieved this season is nothing short of remarkable. Some team spirit there. Could have a huge season next season .
The icing on the cake will be if a new owner takes over, and pronto. 🍰
Otherwise I fear that Dai Jongge will continue to asset strip the club's valuables: players, property and all. 😠
As for the decent Blackpool fans, better luck next season.
True Grit each and every one of them