Two teams battling for a place in the League One playoff positions will clash on Tuesday night as Blackpool host Reading at Bloomfield Road.
The hosts are 10th in the table and trail the top six by five points, while the visitors are sixth in the standings with a one-point lead over seventh-placed Huddersfield Town.
Match preview
© Imago
After suffering relegation from the Championship in 2022-23 – as they finished 23rd in the league table – Blackpool sought to secure an instant return to the second division.
The Tangerines narrowly missed out on a playoff spot in League One last season, finishing eighth in the table and just three points behind sixth-placed Barnsley, with a final-day defeat costing them the chance to qualify despite having a superior goal difference.
Steve Bruce, in charge since September 2024, is aiming to lead Blackpool to a playoff place this campaign, with their sights set on securing promotion back to the second tier.
Blackpool are currently in the battle to place in the top six, sitting 10th in the League One standings with 57 points from 39 fixtures – after 14 wins, 15 draws and 10 defeats – leaving them only five points behind sixth-placed Reading.
That leaves Tuesday’s clash with Reading as a highly important fixture in their hunt for promotion, as a victory could close the gap on the playoffs to just two points, while a defeat would leave them seven points adrift.
Reading are in spectacular form in the build up to this game, though, having avoided defeat in all of their last 11 outings in League One – with five wins and six draws.
The Royals are similarly aiming for a return to the Championship following their relegation from the second tier in 2022-23, and Noel Hunt has them on course to secure a playoff place.
Reading are sixth in the League One table with 62 points from 38 matches – after 17 wins, 11 draws and 10 defeats – leaving them six points behind fifth-placed Stockport County and just one point above seventh-placed Huddersfield Town.
Aiming for a victory to strengthen their top-six status, Reading must overcome Blackpool at Bloomfield Road for the first time since January 2020, having fallen to defeat in all of their last three visits.
Team News
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Ashley Fletcher is enjoying a superb run of goalscoring form for the Tangerines, with six goals in his last nine appearances, and the striker is likely to partner the also in-form Niall Ennis in this one.
Elsewhere, the remainder of the team that has defeated Northampton Town and Bolton Wanderers in their last two outings is expected to feature against Reading.
As for Reading, Harvey Knibbs is their top scorer with 13 goals in 35 league appearances, and the midfielder is expected to start alongside Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing on Tuesday.
Following the 3-1 victory against Peterborough United last time out, Hunt could opt to name a similar team here, with Michael Stickland and Andy Yiadom starting in central defence.
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Tyrer; Offiah, Casey, Baggott, Coulson; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Carey; Ennis, Fletcher
Reading possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Rushesha, Stickland, Yiadom, Abrefa; Savage, Wing, Knibbs; Campbell, Ehibhatiomhan, Camara
We say: Blackpool 1-1 Reading
Blackpool have a strong record against Reading at home, but with the Tangerines drawing a significant 11 times at home this season and Reading drawing seven times on the road in the league, we expect this one to end all square.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
