Preview: Blackpool vs. Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

Reading interim manager Paul Ince will return to his former club Blackpool in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Royals are currently 21st in the table but have put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone over the last week, while the Tangerines are 15th.

Match preview

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Ince won his first game in charge of Reading on Tuesday night as goals from Lucas Joao and John Swift secured a 2-1 victory over Birmingham.

Having also beaten Preston North End in Veljko Paunovic's final game in the dugout last weekend, it means that the Royals have won back-to-back matches for the first time since October.

The Berkshire outfit are now eight points clear of the relegation zone, but Ince has admitted he believes the battle to avoid the drop will go down to the wire.

The former England captain managed Blackpool between February 2013 and January 2014, guiding them to their best-ever start to a league campaign but departing after a run of eight defeats in nine matches.

Reading have the joint-worst defence in the Championship this season having conceded 63 goals in 33 games and have failed to win at Bloomfield Road on their last five league visits.

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Blackpool came from two goals down to win 3-2 in this season's reverse fixture at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in October and are now aiming to complete a league double over Reading for the first time since 1979-80.

The Tangerines were beaten 2-1 by Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night, leaving them winless in four matches.

After losing the game in the 89th minute, Neil Critchley admitted his side have dropped too many points late on in matches this season.

The result also probably shut the door on the club's faint playoff hopes as they are now 11 points behind the top six with 13 games left to play.

Only three Championship sides have scored fewer home goals than Blackpool (17) this season.

Team News

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Blackpool centre-back Marvin Ekpiteta was left out against QPR so he did not aggravate a hamstring issue, but he could return this weekend.

Strike pairing Jerry Yates and Gary Madine could also be restored to the starting lineup after dropping to the bench in midweek.

Richard Keogh, James Husband and Keshi Anderson are among those who remain sidelined in the Tangerines squad.

Paul Ince has confirmed that Baba Rahman will be out for around six weeks, meaning Tom McIntyre will continue at left-back.

The Royals hope to have Josh Laurent, Scott Dann and Alen Halilovic back from the sidelines either this weekend or next.

As well as his father, Tom Ince will return to Bloomfield Road having made a promising start to life on loan at Reading from Stoke City.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Sterling; Bowler, Dougall, Stewart, Dale; Madine, Yates

Reading possible starting lineup:
Hein; Yiadom, Morrison, Holmes, McIntyre; Rinomhota, Drinkwater; Ince, Swift, Hoilett; Joao

We say: Blackpool 0-1 Reading

With Blackpool struggling for form and Reading hoping to continue their new manager bounce under Paul Ince, we think the visitors might just nick the three points and move closer to safety.

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