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Considering that Reading and Blackpool came into this match looking to make strides towards promotion and safety respectively, the opening exchanges were pedestrian and distinctly end of season.
A wise man once said, however, that goals change matches and thankfully so it was in this case from the moment that Blackpool's slack defending gifted Reading their opener on nine minutes.
A routine inswinging Stephen Hunt corner induced Pool keeper Paul Rachubka to flap indecisively at the ball as Noel Hunt stole in to head home from five yards.
The dangerous Noel Hunt almost doubled his tally ten minutes later, his 35-yard free-kick forcing Rachubka into a full-length fingertip save.
Reading were controlling the game with Jay Tabb and the pacey Jem Karacan leading frequent raids against the beleaguered home defence and their pressure was rewarded after 25 minutes.
Full-back Julian Kelly fed Jimmy Kebe, whose run and cross saw Noel Hunt's header tipped against the bar by Rachubka, leaving the unmarked Karacan to poke the ball home from two yards out.
Within seven minutes a Keith Southern goal gave Blackpool a lifeline and changed the mood and feel of the game.
A Charlie Adam corner was only half cleared and when the Scot, on loan from Rangers, played it back into the box Southern reacted quickly to drive past Marcus Hahnemann from close range.
After the break frantic pressure from Blackpool was duly rewarded on 66 minutes by a DJ Campbell goal that turned out to be equally frantic.
Outpacing Michael Duberry, Campbell bore down on goal and as the keeper came to meet him, drove the ball to the back post.
Roy O'Donovan, surrounded by Reading defenders, could only find the underside of the bar. The subsequent clearance fell to Campbell, who volleyed what turned out to be a deserved equaliser.