Reading FC secured a second consecutive League One victory with a 3-1 win over Blackpool at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday evening. The result, reported by Sky Sports, lifts the Royals to 14th in the table with four points from their opening three matches.
George Earthy opened the scoring in the 12th minute, tapping home a cross from Kyreece Lisbie for his second goal in as many games following the midweek 5-0 rout of Mansfield Town. Lisbie then turned scorer four minutes into the second half, reacting quickest to a rebound after Bailey Peacock-Farrell spilled a driven shot. Blackpool pulled one back late through Leighton Clarkson, but Jacob Brown sealed the points in the fourth minute of stoppage time on a quick break.
How did Reading's midfield perform?
Andy Rinomhota was a dominant presence in the centre of the park. His defensive work was excellent, typified by a tracking run to win the ball in the 35th minute. He also provided the long pass that found Lisbie in the build-up to the opening goal and made several driving runs forward. Lewis Wing, however, had a quieter evening by his own high standards. He made a vital intervention to stop a dangerous run into the box but was caught offside in added time when seemingly set for a tap-in.
What were the key defensive moments?
The backline had a mixed night. Paudie O’Connor made several important headed clearances in the first half and combined with Udoka Godwin-Malife to block a break in the 24th minute. He was, however, caught ball-watching for Clarkson's consolation goal. Haydon Roberts provided consistent width and crossing from the left but his forward runs occasionally left space behind. His evening ended early with an injury in the 88th minute, forcing Reading to see out the game with ten men as Blackpool pushed for an equaliser.
What is Reading's current league position?
With this win, Reading's early-season form reads Win, Draw, Loss. They have scored eight goals and conceded four, giving them a healthy +4 goal difference. They sit six points behind early leaders Huddersfield Town. The next test comes quickly with an away trip to face Oxford United, who are 15th, on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. Fans can view the full fixtures schedule and the latest standings on our site.
How did the match unfold after half-time?
Blackpool started the second period brightly, with Jack Marriott wasting two chances shortly after the restart. Reading's second goal, however, came against the run of play from Peacock-Farrell's error. Benn Ward struggled at times with Tom Bloxham's runs down Reading's right but made a key block later on. The Royals managed the game well after going 2-0 up, though Clarkson's strike from a Bloxham cross made for a nervy finale before Brown's clincher. The team will hope for positive news on Roberts' fitness ahead of the Oxford clash, with updates available on our injuries page.
