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Reading 2 Blackpool 1
Grzegorz Rasiak stepped off the bench to head a late winner as Reading ended Blackpool's superb unbeaten run.
Ian Holloway's were without defeat in their previous five game whilst the hosts had not won in front of their own fans at the Madejski Stadium since January - a run of 17 matches - but were rewarded for a much-improved performance which lifts them out of the relegation zone.
Gylfi Sigurdsson put them ahead with a cool finish but Brett Ormerod struck before the hour mark to leave Brendan Rodgers' side looking at yet another draw.
But Rasiak met Marek Matejovsky's cross to steer a header home and give the home fans a long-awaited win.
Jobi McAnuff demanded a sharp save from Matthew Gilks in the opening 30 seconds as the Royals flew out of the blocks.
Brian Howard then stung the palms of Gilks with a free-kick before Simon Church was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring.
Howard whipped in a corner to the near post and after getting ahead of his marker Church flicked a volley goalward but saw the ball strike the outside of the post.
McAnuff then stood up a chip to the far post which Jimmy Kebe volleyed into Gilks' midriff as Rodgers' side piled on the pressure.
Sigurdsson and Church saw efforts drift narrowly wide before the half hour mark while Ben Burgess finally had an effort for Blackpool when Adam Federici tipped his drive around the post.
That was an isolated break for the visitors however and Church again went close but dragged his effort wide of the far post.
For all Reading's domination, Burgess then thumped a shot against the post at the end of a swift counter-attack as the sides inexplicably went in at half-time on level terms.
The home crowd must have feared the worst but saw the Royals finally forge ahead in the 52nd minute.
McAnuff broke clear down the left and crossed for Sigurdsson, who showed admirable composure to take a touch and clip the ball beyond Gilks and into the far corner.
It was just the fourth goal Reading have scored at home all season.
However the Royals were unable to hold on as Ormerod hauled Ian Holloway's men level just six minutes later.
Keith Southern span a pass out to Charlie Adam on the left after a sustained period of possession and Adam delivered a pinpoint cross for Ormerod to hook first time in at the near post.
The lively Church was injured as he stretched awkwardly so Rasiak came on his place as Reading looked desperately for a winner.
And the Poland international duly delivered with eight minutes left, reacting well to nod in Matejovsky's cross after Gilks had punched a corner away.
REPORT TO FOLLOW.
Pool: Gilks, Crainey, Southern, Evatt, Burgess, Ormerod, Vaughan, Baptiste, Euell, Adam and Seip. Subs: Rachubka, Eardley, Clarke, Taylor-Fletcher, Martin, Bangura and Edwards.
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
