Match Report : Reading 0 – 3 Blackpool

Reading 0 – 3 Blackpool (Half-Time: 0 – 2)

Attendance: 14,455 (2nd highest of the season, after 14,778 on 31st August 2024)

On Saturday 14th December 2024, a big crowd came to watch Reading’s home game against Blackpool at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. It was supposed to be a special day for lots of reasons. It was Noel Hunt’s first home match as the Reading manager, taking over after Rubén Sellés left for Hull. The club really built up the excitement before kick-off, with a brilliant marketing campaign that got more young fans involved—there were discounted tickets for kids from local schools and grassroots football clubs, and even live music outside the ground from Only The Poets before the match started. Everybody seemed really excited, and the buzz around the place felt great.

But on the pitch, things just didn’t go as planned. Reading, who usually defend well at home, lost 3–0. Going into this match, we’d only let in four goals at home in the league all season, so conceding three at once was really disappointing. It’s understandable that some fans might link the bad result to the change in management. Noel Hunt, who stepped up to become the boss, was joined by Nigel Gibbs as his assistant and by former Reading midfielder Mikele Leigertwood as a first-team coach. All three know the club really well—Hunt and Leigertwood came through the U23s and Loan Player roles, while Gibbs had been with Reading in the past and recently returned after working at Tottenham. Everyone hoped that their strong Reading connections would help steady the ship, but this first home match under the new regime didn’t go to plan.

The Build-Up and Early Atmosphere

It was a really nice day to watch football, and the crowd was excited from the start. With more than 14,000 fans in attendance, it was the second-best home turnout of the season. The club’s efforts to attract young supporters definitely paid off—the place was packed with families and kids wearing their Reading shirts, scarves, and hats. Before kick-off, I could see loads of people singing along to the music outside, taking photos with their friends, and enjoying the great atmosphere. It felt like everyone was expecting a memorable afternoon, one where Reading would hopefully put on a show.

First Half: Missed Chances and Punishments

The match started at a decent pace, but from the first few minutes, you could tell Reading weren’t quite at their best. They tried to move the ball forward, but nothing really clicked in the final third. Blackpool looked sharp and well organised. They weren’t letting Reading’s attackers find space, and whenever the Royals did get forward, the final pass was often lacking.

One of the biggest moments early on was when Reading had a great chance to take the lead. A lovely ball was curled in from the right side—this was the kind of pass begging for a striker to tap it into the net. Harvey Knibbs found himself right in front of goal with the ball at his feet. Normally, he’s quite reliable in these situations. But somehow, he managed to blast the ball high over the bar. It felt like a huge turning point. If that had gone in, we might be talking about a completely different match. Instead, just a minute later, Blackpool made Reading pay.

Blackpool’s first goal came in the 24th minute. Their keeper, Harry Tyrer, launched a long ball upfield, and Kyle Joseph did really well to bring it under control. He laid it off perfectly to Albie Morgan, who took aim from about 25 yards out and fired a stunning low shot into the bottom corner. Reading’s goalkeeper, Joel Pereira, had no chance. The away end went wild, and the home crowd fell a bit silent. The Royals were suddenly trailing, and they needed a strong reply.

Reading tried to push forward after that setback. Lewis Wing had a half-chance from a corner routine, but his shot drifted wide. On another day, maybe something sneaks in, but it just wasn’t happening.

As the half went on, Reading still looked a bit flat. Blackpool, on the other hand, started growing in confidence. In the 37th minute, things got worse. Joseph caused trouble again, this time breaking down the right-hand side. Pereira saved the first shot, but the ball fell straight to Rob Apter, who didn’t waste his chance and buried the rebound. Suddenly, it was 2–0 to Blackpool, and Reading’s shaky performance was punished once more.

The half-time whistle blew with Reading two goals down. Although it was frustrating, I still had some hope at that point. The first half hadn’t been totally one-sided; it was just that Reading missed their best chance, and Blackpool took theirs perfectly.

Second Half: Frustration and Another Blackpool Goal

When the teams came back out, I was hoping Reading would show more energy and fight. Sometimes, a team that’s losing at half-time comes out and dominates after the break. But on this occasion, Reading struggled to create anything meaningful. They were losing battles all over the pitch, passing was sloppy, and there was no real spark in attack. Blackpool looked comfortable and always dangerous on the counter.

Joel Pereira, who ended up as my personal Man of the Match for Reading, made a few good saves to keep the scoreline from getting even worse. At one point, Apter had a clear run on goal, but Pereira stood firm and saved his shot. Without Pereira’s efforts, it could have been four or five goals conceded, which would’ve been even more painful.

Still, Reading needed at least one goal to try and ignite a comeback. If they could score around the hour mark, who knows what might have happened? But the Royals just couldn’t break down Blackpool’s defence. Wing tried to find that killer pass, Savage tried something from outside the box, and Knibbs kept chasing the ball, but none of it worked.

Then, in the 72nd minute, Blackpool sealed the match. Again, Joseph was involved, linking up with Ashley Fletcher. Fletcher tapped in from close range, and that was that: 3–0 to Blackpool. With less than 20 minutes plus stoppage time to go, there was no sign that Reading had the strength or creativity to fight back.

The last part of the match felt like it dragged on forever. Blackpool made all five of their substitutions, running down the clock and controlling the game. Reading just huffed and puffed, never really looking like scoring. The energy from the stands started to fade, and people looked frustrated and disappointed, which was understandable after all the build-up and excitement before the match.

Man of the Match (From a Reading View)

It might seem odd to pick our goalkeeper Joel Pereira when we’ve lost 3–0, but I honestly think he was the best Reading player on the day. He made some brilliant saves in the first half that stopped Blackpool from scoring even earlier, and he couldn’t really be blamed for the goals that did go in. The defenders should have done more to protect him.

What Went Wrong?

This result was not what anyone expected. Reading had been strong at home, barely conceding and looking quite dangerous going forward. But against Blackpool, the players didn’t show the sharpness or determination we’ve seen before. Maybe the changes in management affected them. Maybe the pressure of a big crowd and a new start under Noel Hunt was too much. Perhaps it was just “one of those days” where nothing goes right.

Whatever the reason, we ended up with a performance that didn’t match the big marketing build-up. The club did so much off the pitch—discounted tickets, live music, encouraging new fans—and it’s a shame the match itself was disappointing. It’s also tough for Noel Hunt, who would have loved to start his home career with a victory to prove to everyone that Reading are heading in the right direction under his leadership.

Looking at Blackpool

From Blackpool’s point of view, they deserved the win. This was their third away victory in a row, and they were clever, clinical, and well-organised. Their first goal by Albie Morgan was a top-quality strike, and they took advantage of Reading’s defensive errors to score the second and third. Ashley Fletcher’s late goal just confirmed that they were the better side on the day.

They had chances too, like Apter’s early shot that Pereira saved, and a good header from Fletcher that Pereira kept out well. On another day, Blackpool could have won by even more. It’s important to recognise that they played some good football, showed confidence, and took their opportunities.

What Happens Next?

For Reading, the main thing now is not to panic. One bad result doesn’t make a team awful, just like one good result doesn’t make them brilliant. The Royals have had good displays this season, especially at home, and hopefully, this was just a bad blip. The danger is that the players start doubting themselves or that fans lose faith too quickly. Noel Hunt, Nigel Gibbs, and Mikele Leigertwood know the club really well, and they understand what it takes to get back on track.

After all, sometimes these tough days happen. Even top teams slip up now and then. The key is learning from it—figuring out what went wrong, working on it in training, and coming back stronger. If the players and staff stay calm and focused, they can move past this defeat.

Reading’s supporters can help too. The fact that so many people came to watch the game, including lots of young fans, shows that there’s a massive interest in the club. Sticking together during the tough times is part of being a real fan. Hopefully, the next home match will bring a performance that everyone can be proud of. This might be a lesson for the team to not take anything for granted and to fight for every ball, every chance, and every point.

In Conclusion

The day started with so much promise: a huge crowd, live music, a new manager’s first home game, and the club going the extra mile to welcome new, younger fans. Unfortunately, it ended in disappointment as Blackpool ran out 3–0 winners, leaving Reading to pick up the pieces and try to move on.

At 1-0 down the usual loud home fans became quieter, easily drowned out by the Blackpool fans. As the third goal went in for Blackpool, many Reading fans were seen heading for the exits.

Despite how miserable it felt, we have to remember that football is full of ups and downs. This was a day where almost everything that could go wrong for Reading did go wrong. Harvey Knibbs missed a big chance, Blackpool scored two quick goals in the first half, and we just never recovered. Joel Pereira tried his best, making several saves, but he couldn’t stop all three goals.

Now, it’s about bouncing back. Noel Hunt and his staff have a lot to think about, but they know the club inside out. The players need to trust in themselves and in the work they do on the training ground. The fans need to keep believing and supporting the team, even when things get tough.

Let’s hope that next time out, Reading will show what they’re really capable of. As a young fan, I’ve seen Reading have bad days before, and I’m sure I’ll see them again. The important thing is to learn from them and come out stronger. We’ve got to stick together—players, coaches, and supporters—and remember that one bad game doesn’t define a season.

Up the ‘Ding, and let’s look forward to a brighter result next time.