INCE HITS DOUBLE TO BEAT RELEGATION BATTLERS
READING FC continued to flourish at home as a brace from Tom Ince either side of Andy Carroll’s penalty gave the Royals three points against Blackpool.
Ince put the Royals in front after 12 minutes after his shot took a deflection on its way in.
They then struck quickly with two goals in two minutes as Andy Carroll slotted in from the penalty spot before Ince grabbed his second to put the game beyond Blackpool.
The Tangerines notched a consolation goal deep into stoppage time to prevent Reading from keeping a clean sheet.
The win moves Reading up to 14th in the Championship table, 13 points clear of the drop zone.
Paul Ince made four switches from Reading’s late defeat at Cardiff City last Friday night.
A new-look midfield saw Jeff Hendrick return from illness, while Chelsea loanee Cesare Casadei was handed his second start since joining in January.
Yakou Meite was given a start up top to partner Andy Carroll, while Tom Ince returned to the line-up having missed out at Cardiff through fatigue.
The Royals boss set his side up with a four-at-the-back system opposed to the usual formation of deploying five in the back line.
The hosts won a couple of early corners but were unable to make anything of it.
Naby Sarr then went close for the Royals when he latched on to Ince’s free-kick and headed just over the target.
Having missed the creative spark that Tom Ince provides that the side dearly missed last week, it took just 13 minutes for Reading’s star man to make his impact.
After drifting into the box and working the ball onto his right foot, Ince drove a low shot goalwards that took a deflection off a defender to defy Chris Maxwell and find the net to put the Royals in front.
There was reluctance from Ince to celebrate having netted against his former side who he played for more than 100 times during a threeyear spell.
The home team went in search of a second goal when Ince tried to pick out Carroll in the middle with a cross that just evaded the forward.
A burst down the right from Yakou Meite should have led to Reading’s second, but the Ivorian was unable to pick out a teammate with his cut back that was swept away by Mick McCarthy’s side.
Carroll did excellently to bring down a crossfield ball from Amadou Mbengue on his chest, but couldn’t find a finish to match as he smacked a half volley over the top.
The Tangerines had the final chance of the half to try and get into the break level when Gary Madine got the ball under control in the box and forced a late corner after his shot was deflected behind after narrowly missing the far post.
Tricky winger Josh Bowler continued to cause problems throughout the second-half and won his side a free-kick on the right after skipping past Casadei attempted challenge.
With plenty of Blackpool players waiting in the box for a delivery, Luke Garbutt wasted the opportunity with his effort falling into the grateful arms of Joe Lumley.
The visitors established control to get on the front foot in the early proceedings of the second-half as Reading struggled for possession.
Reading broke at pace through Meite who sprinted down on goal and with two defenders in pursuit of the Ivorian, he was tripped in the box, leading the referee no choice but to point to the penalty spot.
Carroll stepped up and confidently stroked the ball into the bottom right corner to double the lead.
Just minutes later, the game was all but done when Blackpool’s clearance from Meite’s cut back fell into the path of Ince who slotted into the net to give the hosts a commanding lead.
With the win wrapped up, Reading made a triple change with 10 left to play as Shane Long, Nelson Abbey and Mamadou Loum replaced Casadei, Mbengue and Meite.
The visitors scored with virtually the final kick of the game to prevent the Royals from keeping a clean sheet.