Ince hits out at his soft Royals
PAUL Ince blamed ‘naive’ defending as Reading were swept aside at mid-table Blackpool.
Lucas Joao gave the Royals a 17th-minute lead but Marvin Ekpiteta drew the Seasiders level before the break and second-half goals from Gary Madine, Shayne Lavery and Josh Bowler secured the points.
It was Blackpool’s first victory in five games, and leaves the Royals precariously placed just above the drop zone after their mini-revival came to a shuddering halt following back-to-back wins.
“It’s disappointing,” said interim boss Ince, “We spoke before the game about how we felt Blackpool would play, hitting it up to the big guy (Gary) Madine.
“There were no surprises there really, but we still let it happen. We have been conceding soft goals and silly mistakes have been made and were made again today.
“It was never a 4-1 game, but we are where we are. This season is going to go to the wire, so it’s up to us now to keep that belief and that confidence.”
It was the hosts who started the better and they carved out the first chance in the eighth minute at Bloomfield Road.
Madine leapt well to nod down into the path of strike partner Jerry Yates, only for his shot to be comfortably saved by Luke Southwood.
Blackpool were well on top in the early stages, and they came close again on the quarter-hour mark.
It was against the run of play when the visitors struck. Andy Yiadom produced some neat trickery before pulling the ball back into Joao’s path, and the Portuguese striker tapped home his fourth goal in three matches easily from six yards.
Blackpool deservedly levelled it up in the 27th minute. Alert skipper Ekpiteta nodded home from close range following Kevin Stewart’s header into the danger zone.
The dangerous Bowler almost fired Blackpool ahead when his shot on the turn was saved by Southwood, while Yates also saw a flicked effort beaten out.
Blackpool continued to probe for another goal in the early moments of the second period.
The Seasiders notched a deserved second goal in the 61st minute. Madine leapt highest at the far post as he nodded home from Kenny Dougall’s inswinging corner.
And Blackpool went on to seal victory with two late strikes.
Lavery tucked neatly past Southwood after meeting Dougall’s through-ball, then Bowler volleyed home from 12 yards to complete a miserable return to Blackpool for exboss Ince.
Boss Neil Critchley admitted the scoreline flattered his Blackpool team.
“I’m not sure that 4-1 was the right scoreline if I’m honest, but we’ll take it,” he said.
“Time and again this season so far, the lads have proved that they are capable of responding to setbacks, and that was the case again here.
“I’ve got a great bunch of honest professionals here, and I love working with them.”