MATCH PREVIEW – BLACKPOOL vs READING
Tuesday, 1st April 2025
Kick-off: 7:45 PM
Stadium: Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
GET READY FOR A BIG NIGHT
It’s a massive game under the lights at Bloomfield Road. Blackpool host Reading in League One, and both sets of fans will be buzzing.
Blackpool need the points to stay in the hunt for the play-offs. Reading are trying to keep their unbeaten run going and want to stay in the play off place, with the off the field deadlines approaching quickly. A team in the play-offs is very much more desirable than one out of it.
You going? If you are, get there early. It’s going to be a proper atmosphere.
THE STATS THAT MATTER
Let’s keep it simple.
Blackpool win odds: 1.66
Reading win odds: 4.50
Draw odds: 4.10
Over 1.5 goals: 1.20 – likely
Both teams to score: 1.60 – also likely
Over 9.5 corners: 1.66 – expect a busy night on the wings
CURRENT FORM – WHO’S HOT?
BLACKPOOL
3 wins in their last 5 games
Lost just once in that time
Scored in each of their last 4
3 clean sheets in last 5
8 goals scored in those 5 matches
They’re strong at home. Only lost 17% of games at Bloomfield Road all season.
They’re hard to beat. Not many sides come away with all 3 points.
READING
Unbeaten in 10 matches
2 wins and 3 draws in last 5
6 goals scored in those games
Haven’t lost away in 3 matches
Reading are tricky. They don’t score loads, but they don’t give up easily either.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Total meetings: 19
Blackpool wins: 8
Reading wins: 8
Draws: 3
Last match? A 1-1 draw.
Last time Reading won at Bloomfield Road? August 2001 – over 20 years ago.
But… Reading did beat Blackpool 3-2 last time they met at the end of last season.
Anything can happen.
BLACKPOOL – WHAT TO EXPECT
They’ve got goals in them.
Top scorers:
Ashley Fletcher – 11 goals
Kyle Joseph – 7 goals
Niall Ennis – 6 goals
Creative players:
Albie Morgan – 8 assists
Lee Evans – 5 assists
CJ Hamilton – 4 assists
They play quick. They cross a lot. They go for goals.
Defensively? Pretty solid.
12 clean sheets this season
Only conceded 3 goals in last 5 games
At home, they’re confident. They’ve beaten Bolton here recently. They’ll fancy it.
ONE TO WATCH – ASHLEY FLETCHER
Big, strong striker. Good in the air. Experienced.
Started at Man United, played for West Ham and Middlesbrough, now banging them in for Blackpool.
6 goals and 1 assist in his last 9 games
11 goals total this season
If Blackpool score, don’t be surprised if it’s him.
BLACKPOOL’S BOSS – STEVE BRUCE
Yes, that Steve Bruce – ex Manchester United player.
Used to manage in the Premier League. Now guiding Blackpool in League One.
Knows the game. Knows how to get promoted. Knows how to win.
Fans trust him. Players seem to play for him.
READING – WHAT TO EXPECT
They’re scrappy. They fight for everything. They don’t give up.
Top scorers:
Harvey Knibbs – 13 goals
Lewis Wing – 5 goals
Charlie Savage – 5 goals
Creative sparks:
Lewis Wing – 6 assists
Charlie Savage – 5 assists
Ben Elliott – 4 assists
They’re not afraid to shoot from distance. Wing especially loves a hit from outside the box.
Defensively, they’ve looked tighter lately. Still, they do concede chances. Blackpool will test them.
WHO’S GETTING BOOKED?
Keep an eye on these lads:
Blackpool
Lee Evans – 10 yellows
James Husband – 8 yellows
Samuel Silvera – 0.62 cards per game
Reading
Mbengue – 7 yellows
Wing & Savage – 5 each
Ashqar Ahmed – 1.55 cards per game (!)
Could be a few tasty tackles going in.
FROM THE VAULT
Last season, Reading stunned Blackpool with a 3-2 win on the final day. That result crushed Blackpool’s hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Revenge on the cards? Lets hope not!
REF WATCH – AARON BANNISTER
Ref for this one is Aaron Bannister.
This season:
28 games
132 yellow cards
2 second yellows
1 red
4 penalties given
Not afraid to show cards. Could be busy with these two teams.
WHERE THEY STAND
Blackpool – mid-table, but not far off the play-offs.
Reading – climbing the table, pulling away from the bottom.
Points matter for both. Neither side will want to lose.
KEY BATTLES
Fletcher vs Yiadom – Power vs power. Expect a clash here.
Morgan vs Savage – Two creative midfielders, both can unlock defences.
Hamilton vs Holzman – If CJ gets going, Stickland could be in for a long night.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This isn’t just another League One game.
Blackpool want revenge for last year
Reading want to extend their unbeaten run, and stay in the playoff zone
The stats say goals are coming
The fans will be loud from both sides
The players will be fired up
Who do you think wins it?
Blackpool at home? Or Reading gram more points on the road?
Whatever happens, it’s going to be one to watch.
Our Predictions: Blackpool FC 1 – 2 Reading, My Dad feels it will be a tough night for Reading, with the young team having worked their socks off on Saturday, then the long trip north, a point on the road could be okay, before the home game vs Wycombe on Saturday. He is going for a 2-2 draw.
