Thomas Ince scored a brace to help Reading produce one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the Championship. Reading’s top scorer, Tom Ince, gave his side a half-time lead, and despite a comeback by Blackpool, they were buried by two goals in two minutes from Andy Carroll (penalty) and Ince. Sonny Carey scored deep into stoppage time for the visitors, but it was too little, too late. The Tangerines, led by new manager Mick McCarthy, had broken a 14-match league winless streak by defeating Stoke at home last Saturday, but they were defeated at Blackburn on Tuesday night, leaving them four points from safety ahead of their trip to Berkshire. Reading had only won once in eight Championship games but had gone undefeated in six home games in all competitions.
The visitors started brightly, with most of their moves centered on the left wing, and defender Curtis Nelson saw a shot on the outskirts of the home area blocked. Reading quickly regained control, with Yakou Meite heading a Junior Hoilett cross straight at goalkeeper Chris Maxwell before Naby Sarr nodded in from an Ince free-kick. Blackpool should have heeded the early warnings, but they were caught off guard when Meite set up Ince in the 13th minute. The winger cut into the box and had his well-hit shot ricochet off defender Jordan Thorniley on its way past Maxwell. Blackpool attempted to regroup but came up short, and the hosts could have extended their lead before the break.
Reading sat back and protected their lead as Blackpool continued to press, but were caught off guard by a quickfire home double. Carroll scored his sixth goal of the season in the 70th minute after Meite was hauled down in the area by a botched duel challenge from Curtis Nelson and Andy Lyons. Meite caused chaos again two minutes later, cutting in from the right wing, and Nelson made a weak clearance effort. Ince was lurking nearby and calmly dispatched his eighth goal of the season. Carey did close the difference in injury time with a powerful strike following a goalmouth scramble, but Blackpool remains in the bottom three.
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