Seasiders Earn Royals Point

Keith Southern and DJ Campbell were the goalscorers as Blackpool came from two goals down to earn a great point against promotion chasing Reading.

Tony Parkes was forced into one change from the Preston game; Lee Hughes replacing Ben Burgess whose wife had gone into labour. Steve McPhee stepped up to the bench.

The Seasiders started poorly, perhaps hungover from Saturday’s heroics and Reading took full advantage. Pool failed to deal with an early warning from a Reading corner when Noel Hunt headed over and just minutes later the same player headed home from an almost identical corner.

Jem Karacan put the Royals 2-0 up fifteen minutes later, slotting home after yet more poor Blackpool defending. Noel Hunt had struck the bar in the build up to the goal.

However, as soon as the Seasiders woke up and started playing they were the dominate side with Reading looking low on confidence.

On the half hour Keith Southern pulled a goal back, bundling the ball home after a great cross from Deepdale hero Charlie Adam. Game on.

The Seasiders continued to dominate, creating half chance after half chance before finally equalising on 66 minutes. DJ Campbell broke on the right, crossed the ball towards Southern and O’Donovan who sometime managed to hit the bar from a yard out between them… fortunately Campbell was there to poke home the rebound.

Kevin Wright, one of the most inept referees ever to grace Bloomfield Road, then apparently subbed himself off in disgust at his performance. His replacement was not much better.

In an attempt to regain the lead, Steve Coppell threw on Dave Kitson and Glen Little, changing to a 4-3-3 formation.

The Seasiders made a couble chance on 84 minutes; Ormerod and Jorgensen replacing Hughes and O’Donovan.

Five minutes of injury time was indicated, but the Seasiders were unable to find a winner.