Football is back!

After two long months without club football, our favourites are back on the pitch today. 

Reading FC kick-off their 2022/2023 campaign with a trip up north to Blackpool. 

The meeting comes off the back of a disappointing previous season for the Royals, whereas the Tangerines are hoping to build on a positive return to second-tier football. 

Here’s what you need to know about today’s match-up.

Form

Reading FC have had a mixed pre-season, putting in some decent performances despite a couple of negative results. 

The preparation period began with a 2-0 victory over Colchester United just four weeks ago, and continued with a 2-0 loss to Benfica one week later. 

A 4-0 victory over lowly Maidenhead United followed, before the Royals secured a well-earned draw against top-flight side West Ham United at the SCL Stadium. 

The Royals completed pre-season with a 2-0 away victory at AFC Wimbledon on July 19, before succumbing to a 2-1 loss at home to Brighton on Saturday, July 23. 

Blackpool also began their pre-season with a 2-0 win against Southport but then lost 4-0 against Leeds United on July 7. 

A 2-1 loss to Rangers followed this but Blackpool bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Salford City on July 19. 

The Tangerines lost 4-2 to Everton on July 24 and completed their campaign warm-up with a 2-0 win over AFC Fylde.

Team News

Remarkably, Reading are looking in pretty good shape after a torrid time with injuries in 2021/2022. 

The only concern the Royals have lies with Lucas Joao, who faces a late fitness test for the trip up north. 

Blackpool are waiting to see if star players Jordan Gabriel and James Husband will be fit for Saturday’s game. 

According to the Blackpool FC website, both are unlikely to feature but the pair are ‘recovering quicker than previously thought.’

Richard Keogh is considered a 50/50 to be involved, but Kevin Stewart and Jake Beesley are out injured. 

New signings Dom Thompson and Theo Corbeanu could feature. 


Last Time Out: Blackpool 4 - 1 Reading, February 26, 2022

A promising start soon turned to disaster the last time these two sides met. 

Reading began brightly, taking the lead through Lucas Joao on 17 minutes. 

Marvin Ekpiteta levelled things up ten minutes later so the teams went in level at half-time. 

The floodgates opened in the second period, however, as Blackpool took the lead via Gary Madine on 61 minutes. 

Shayne Lavery and Bowler completed the rout with goals in the 86th and 90th minutes. 

Reading went on to finish the season in 21st place, whereas Blackpool completed a return to the second tier with a 16th placed finish, 19 points above the Royals.