Blackpool's Bonnie Prince Charlie leads charge against Royals

Chances were few and far between for both sides who played cautiously on a pitch in desperate need of repair. Blackpool however almost took the lead in the second minute when Gary Taylor-Fletcher combined well with Brett Ormerod - but Ormerod's decisions to cross instead of shoot let the visitors off the hook.

Despite the lack of chances, the home side looked the more likely to break the deadlock with strikers Dudley Campbell and Ormerod constantly frustrated by a resolute Reading defence led by Georgian international Zurab Khizanishvili.

The Royals defence was finally breached on 41 minutes thanks to a perfectly waited ball from Charlie Adam that allowed Campbell to race through the back line and slot past advancing keeper Adam Federici.

Leading Blackpool goalscorer Adam notched his side's second on 74 minutes with a powerful drive from the edge of the 12-yard box.

Reading - Blackpool's bogey team with five wins in their last six meetings - showed little of the form that had helped them win three of their last four games.

The home side, still on a high after a 2-0 midweek victory over Middlesbrough, almost made it 3-0 on 79 minutes when Keith Southern's ferocious curling drive came back of the post.

Reading's lack of chances was down to Blackpool's Ian Evatt and his excellent marshalling of the back line, effectively taking striker Simon Church out of the game. Church though almost notched a consolation goal with a spectacular volley on 85 minutes but his effort flew over the bar.

Substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson saw his stoppage-time free-kick go the same way.