Reading vs Blackpool prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-02-24 15:00.
Reading manager Paul Ince didn’t hold back following his side’s 1-0 Championship defeat to Cardiff last Friday, accusing the referee of “bottling a blatant red card” decision and his own players of being “poor from the first minute to the 95th”. The defeat left them 16th in the table but with just one win across their last eight league games (D3, L4), Ince has every right to be upset about things.
Although their overall recent form has been poor, they’re unbeaten in five home Championship fixtures (W3, D2) and average a healthy two points per home league game this term. The Royals also scored twice in each of the last four of those games, so Ince will expect a much better performance against his former employers Blackpool, a side he’s never beaten as a manager (L2).
A first managerial H2H against Mick McCarthy beckons although the two have crossed swords before, as when McCarthy took over at Wolves in 2006 he decided not to renew Ince’s contract, after which he retired as a player. Hopefully neither are out of contract after this game, but the pressure is on, especially for McCarthy who has won just one of his seven games in charge of the Seasiders (D2, L4), meaning they remain in the bottom three following Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn.
“We’ve let ourselves down tonight,” was his post-game reaction and they’re falling further away from safety as even a win here won’t lift them out of the relegation zone. They might be winless in league away action since late October (D2, L6), but this could be an opportunity to rebound as the Tangerines haven’t lost either of the last two H2Hs here (W1, D1).
Players to watch: Jeff Hendrick has scored three times in as many Reading home games, twice netting their second goal of the game. Blackpool’s Jerry Yates scored twice in this fixture last term, but has been more of a provider of late, registering three assists across his last seven appearances.
Hot stat: The last six H2Hs here (Reading: W4, D1, L1) produced an entertaining average of 4.17 goals per game.