When : Tuesday April 1 2025, 7.45pm
Where : Bloomfield Road, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ
Capacity : 17,338
The rather cr@p away record (17th best in the division) heads north to partake of pleasantries with Blackpool, owners of the current 8th best home record. About the only positive from this is that Blackpool begins with “B” so there’s a chance this might not turn into the likely debacle we all expect.
Blackpool have only lost 2 of their last 18 league games (2-1 at Stockport and 2-1 at home v Leyton Orient) but have drawn 9 of those so it can be said they are a difficult outfit to beat anywhere but then Reading should be more than aware of that after the pretty dreadful performance against them at the SCL. This run has lifted the Tangerines from the lower reaches to the fringes of the play off race and just 5 points behind 6th placed Reading.
Kyle Joseph and Ashley Fletcher provide serious strike threat with 18 goals between them so far. However the biggest threat would appear to be January loan signing (from Stoke) Niall Ennis who has bagged 6 goals in 10(2) appearances already.
Injuries abound with defenders dropping like flies at a fly spray convention. Bindon is ill and unknown if he’ll make it, Craig, Mbengue, Dean, Dorsett, Garcia are still out though Mbengue may well travel.
Other games of note on Tuesday…
Burton v Leyton Orient
Lincoln v Huddersfield
Stockport v Stevenage
Wigan v Bolton
Referee
Aaron Bannister
Previously
Nothing known
Historically
Bloomfield Road has not been particularly hospitable to Reading down the years, the first 5 games played at the venue saw 0 points returned and 22 goals conceded (including the heaviest defeat there of 7-0) so there is something by way of a precedent already set for cr@p experiences in this part of Lancashire.
There have been 23 league visits in total to this part of the coast and Reading have won on 5 occasions while losing on 13 but haven’t won on any of the last 8 league visits (earning just 2 points) including 3 defeats, conceding 9 goals, in the last 3 visits - so a point would probably be a good outcome for the club.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Now app/Sky red button
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalsTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
