Blackpool 0, Reading 2

A DISMAL performance on a truly dismal night cost Blackpool dear as Reading beat them 2-0 on a blustery Tuesday evening (February 8).

Steve McMahon could be heard roasting his players in the dressing room afterwards - but he was altogether more forgiving when speaking to the press afterwards.

He said: "I never usually make excuses, but if you could tell me the way the wind was blowing, you'd be doing better than me.

"It was swirling everywhere. If anyone can control the wind here, I'd like to speak to them.

"The lads are desperate to win at home. You can see that."

The first-half was a balanced affair; both sides going close on occasions. But the harsh wind and driving rain put the stops on any fancy moves.

Long balls became short passes and a tap back to the keeper became akin to a shot.

The visitors loaded their defence for the duration of the first-half and man-marked Pool out of the game. That's not to say there wasn't some nice football from the Tangerines. John Murphy combined well with the ever-hard working Junior Bent on the left with a neat one-two on five minutes, Bent's cross sailing just over Murphy's head six yards from goal. And Clark Carlisle, despite his failure to pick up Jimmy McIntyre for the visitors' first goal, looked on top form, clearing corners and back-tracking every time the Royals broke.

But Reading's expensive strikeforce, Nicky Forster and Martin Butler, demonstrated what Blackpool are missing. The duo were quick on the break and a goal was sure to come from them.

On 64 minutes, Carlisle cleared McIntyre's shot from the line. Minutes later, Reading were on the counter attack and no one picked up on McIntyre's run down the centre of the pitch.

Butler smashed the ball across from the left and McIntyre was left unmarked to head past Caig with ease.

Murphy tried a looping shot on 74 minutes, but it flew wide to the left. Kevin Richardson also tried from long range, but the cruel wind took his shot high and wide.

Reading's second, the killer blow, came on 80 minutes. Forster headed the ball down in the area and Butler was credited with bundling the ball across the line, as Gary Ablett bore down on him.

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