Blackpool vs Reading Predictions

• Reading are unbeaten in 8 games.
• Blackpool have failed to win any of their last 6 matches.
• Reading have conceded in 4 of their last 5 FA Cup trips.
• 8 of Blackpool’s last 10 games have seen both teams score.

Second Chance for Royals

Reading had been on a fine run in the Championship, but they couldn’t get around League One Blackpool in the Third Round. The Royals now face a second clash with the Seasiders, this time they’re heading for Bloomfield Road. However, will their class tell in this trip, or can Blackpool pull off a shock in front of their home crowd?

Bowen Bounce?

The visitors come into this clash unbeaten in eight overall, so it has been a fine period for new manager Mark Bowen. The new boss is certainly gaining ground, having lifted them into 14th place. That’s a positive sign ahead of a meeting with a Blackpool side who have failed to win any of their last six matches.

The visitors have the chance to push for a cup run now, following their move towards safety in the league. The Royals are 12 points clear of the drop and they’re on course for a midtable finish, so they should be looking to spice things up a bit with a cup run while they’re in form. However, the visitors have a mixed record on the road in this competition. The Royals have failed to win in six away FA Cup games, keeping one clean sheet in their last five trips.

Vulnerable Royals

The visitors have conceded in 77% of their away Championship games this term, while their last three matches have all finished without a clean sheet. Meanwhile, Blackpool have also seen both teams score in each of their last three matches. On top of that, the hosts come into this clash with both teams finding the net in eight of their last 10 games across all competitions.

With Blackpool failing to keep a clean sheet in five at home and Reading conceding in all four cup games they’ve played this term, we expect goals here. We are going for both teams to score as our pick following their thrilling 2-2 draw in the last meeting. That was the third time in four clashes between these two that BTTS landed, while a repeat looks likely for this clash with both suffering from defensive insecurities.

On top of that, we’re backing Reading’s five-game winless run at this ground to continue. Blackpool’s only FA Cup defeat in 90 minutes in their last nine home clashes came against Arsenal, while the Royals have drawn three of their four cup games this season, while their six-game winless run on the road in this competition has us backing a 1-1 draw.