ROYALS SET TO OPEN NEW CAMPAIGN WITH SEASIDE TRIP
READING FC face a trip to the seaside as they kick off their 2022/23 Championship campaign.
The Royals are up against Blackpool to begin the new 46 game campaign.
Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, it has been a summer of change both on and off the pitch in Berkshire.
Paul Ince was appointed as the permanent boss having led Reading to safety on an interim basis, while former boss Mark Bowen has returned as head of football operations.
Reading have been under a transfer embargo for the second consecutive season but have still been able to add some quality to the side after being permitted to sign free agents and loan players.
Having conceded the joint most goals in the entire division last season (87), Ince will be hoping to tighten up his back line.
The first test of the new season comes against a new look Blackpool side who finished in 16th last season.
They totalled 60 points with 16 wins, 12 draws and 18 defeats.
Having been under the management of Neil Critchley last season, who led the Tangerines to an impressive mid table finish in their first season back in the Championship having won the League One play-offs in 2020/21, they have a new boss at the helm.
Crithcley departed Blackpool to join Steven Gerrard’s coaching team at Aston Villa, while Michael Appleton was appointed as the club’s new boss nine years after his first spell as manager of Blackpool.
Appleton was the shortest reigning manager in Blackpool’s history as he took charge of just 11 matches.
Having gone unbeaten in his first five matches, he picked up just one win in his next six games and resigned.
When the teams met at Bloomfield Road in February 2022, Blackpool came away with all three points after a resounding 4-1 success.
Reading went in front through Lucas Joao but were quickly pegged back by Marvin Ekpiteta’s equaliser.
Gary Medine put the Tangerines ahead just after the hour mark and two quickfire goals late on from Shayne Lavery and Josh Bowler consolidated the points for the hosts.