When : Saturday September 23 2023, 3pm
Where : Bloomfield Road, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ
Capacity : 17,338
Expectation is for one of the hardest and most difficult games in the division on Saturday, particularly given Reading's none too good record at this resort coupled with the incredible current away league record for the club of P15, W0, D2, L13.
Like Reading Blackpool were relegated last season so there is a known quantity here in what to expect. The Tangerines have started the season equally as well as Reading (all points have come at home, away they're worse than Reading this season as they haven't even scored) but lie 16th rather than equal 20th (21st) thanks to the lack of Chinese owners. They've won 2 and drawn 2 of their 4 home games so far but find it difficult to score goals (just 4 in the league) but equally they struggle to concede and like Reading have only let in 6 which overall might suggest an uninteresting 0-0 might be what to expect from this one.
Star striker Jerry Yates left for Swansea in the summer but Jordan Rhodes arrived on loan. In addition they beat Reading off for the services of Jensen Weir. Shane Lavery is probably the striker to stop while midfielders Alex Lanksheer and Kenny Dougall could be ones to watch.
Injuries will mean no involvement for Lewis Wing, Mamadou Camara, Sam Smith or Ovie Ejaria and I'm sure I've seen reports of yet another concussion floating about which if true means that Reading will also lack the services of a convent or monastery supervised by an abbess or abbot.
Referee
Tom Reeves
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 crap experiences in this part of Lancashire.
There have been 22 league visits in total to this part of the coast and Reading have won on 5 occasions while losing on 12 but haven’t won on any of the last 7 league visits (earning just 2 points) 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
- 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)