Blackpool play host to Reading on Saturday afternoon looking to make the perfect start to their second season back in the Championship.

Meanwhile, the Royals are bidding to enjoy a campaign further away from the relegation zone having narrowly avoided dropping into the third tier in 2021-22.

Match preview

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At one point this summer, Blackpool were preparing for their second campaign in the Championship with Neil Critchley bidding to improve on last season's excellent 16th-placed finish.

However, Critchley eventually moved to Aston Villa to become Steven Gerrard's new assistant, leading to Michael Appleton being given his second opportunity in the Bloomfield Road dugout.

While it has taken time and patience for Appleton to add to his first-team squad, three smart additions in the form of Dominic Thompson, Rhys Williams and Lewis Fiorini have now been made with Theo Corbeanu on the brink of joining them from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There will be some supporters who are ruing the untimely departure of Critchley at a time when he appeared to be building something special with the Tangerines, but there are fresh reasons for optimism this time around.

Although Blackpool posted three wins and three defeats during pre-season, Appleton will take encouragement from pushing Everton last weekend before succumbing to a 4-2 defeat.

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After eight years away from the dugout, Paul Ince's managerial career had looked all but done, but he was surprisingly appointed as the interim boss of Reading during the back end of last season.

While Ince posted just four wins and three draws from 14 games, it was enough to keep Reading in the Championship, the powers-that-be being suitably impressed to hand the former Blackpool boss an extended stint.

Some experienced names have been brought to the club, including former Royals forward Shane Long, while much is expected from Nottingham Forest loanee Tyrese Fornah.

Reading enjoyed a solid pre-season, claiming a 1-1 draw with West Ham United and only losing 2-0 and 2-1 respectively to Benfica and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Team News

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The likes of Thompson and Corbeanu, should he be signed in time, are likely to start their Blackpool stints on the substitutes' bench.

However, Williams and Fiorini are expected to feature in a team which could be similar to the one named for the Everton defeat.

Although a strong side was selected for a friendly with AFC Fylde earlier this week, the purpose was to hand some much-needed minutes to squad members and any players returning from injury.

Lucas Joao is a huge doubt for Reading having sustained a knee injury during the defeat to Brighton last weekend.

With none of the other substitutes entering the fray until the 77th minute, there is every indication that the same starting lineup will be selected for this contest.

That would see Joe Lumley, Sam Hutchinson, Fornah and Jeff Hendrick all handed their competitive debuts.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Connolly, Keogh, Williams, Garbutt; Virtue, Fiorini, Carey, Bowler, Anderson; Madine

Reading possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Holmes, Hutchinson, McIntyre, Yiadom; Fornah, Hendrick; Hoilett, Ejaria, Ince; Meite

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Reading

With both teams still in the process of adding to their respective squads, we do not expect to see the finished articles on show at Bloomfield Road. However, this feels like a contest between two evenly-matched sides, one which could end in a share of the spoils.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Darren Plant

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