BLACKPOOL'S heroics in the Millennium Stadium were put firmly into the past as the Royals of Reading gave Steve McMahon's men a stark lesson in what to expect from Division Two this season.
The Seasiders were convincingly outdone in every department as the highly-tipped Reading strolled to a comfortable 2-0 victory. On this evidence it seems McMahon has quite a job on his hands if he is to avoid a season a struggle in Blackpool's return to Division Two.
In contrast to Reading, who had quite a few injuries, McMahon had
virtually a full squad to choose from with only Danny Coid failing to reach
the start of the season free of injury.
John O'Kane was given his competitive debut in Tangerine colours, along Brian Reid and Ian Hughes, as part of a back five which included Gary Parkinson and Tommy Jaszczun as wingbacks. In midfield, Richie Wellens and John Hills were joined by last term's player of season Paul Simpson. Brett Ormerod and John Murphy started the game up front for the Seasiders, but it was Reading who took the ascendancy from the very first minute at a very wet Bloomfield Road.
The visitors looked the much sharper and hungrier of the two sides, despite the first chance falling to Ormerod whose snap shot was well saved by Royals keeper Gary Whitehead. Reading didn't take long to create their first opportunity when, on 20minutes, Blackpool had to rely on some last-ditch defending from Tommy Jaszczun to keep the 0-0 scoreline in tact.
However, 10 minutes later Reading grabbed a deserved opener. It started from a neat move which resulted in a good save by Phil
Barnes after Smith's powerful volley. But from the resulting corner Barnes failed to move from his goal line to claim the cross and consequently Parkinson was given the easy opportunity to head home.
Despite starting the second half better, the Seasiders still never really
clicked into gear. There were plenty of opportunities for Brett Ormerod to level the scores, with the best of them on 71 minutes when the ball fell kindly to last season's top goalscorer five yards out. But when the normally prolific Ormerod screwed his shot wide, it was obvious that it wasn't to be Blackpool's day.
The Seasiders misery was compounded when Reading grabbed a second goal five minutes later to all but seal the three points.
Blackpool will feel hard done by in the build-up to the goal when Jamie Forester was put through thanks to a somewhat fortunate ricochet on the right hand side. But once clear on goal no one can doubt the striker's finishing capabilities as Forester clinically slotted past Barnes to the delight of the strong visiting support.
Blackpool offered little evidence of a fight back in the remaining 10
minutes with the best chance being carved out by John Hills who charged at the Reading defence only to be checked by Reading substitute Gamble. But John O'Kane failed to take advantage by sending the resulting free kick sailing high of the target.
The final whistle was blown soon after to signal a losing to start to
Blackpool's new campaign. The last thing the Seasiders will want is a repeat of last season's disastrous start. But judgements should not be made after only one game.
The Seasiders have 45 more matches in which to put it right,
starting away at Bournemouth next Saturday.
RESULT: Blackpool 0... Reading 2
Parkinson 31, Forster 75 Blackpool team : Barnes, Parkinson, Jaszczun, Reid, Hughes, O'Kane, Wellens, Simpson, Hills, Ormerod, Murphy.
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