It wasn't pretty at times from Royals, but goals from Glenn Murray and Jake Taylor put Nigel Adkins' side in command, before a late penalty from Nick Blackman added gloss to the scoreline.

Royals were rarely tested at the back, but a clean sheet after the recent defensive horrors will be welcomed almost as much as the three points.

It will be a massive relief for Reading, who moved up to 14th in the Championship.

It was a fairy uneventful first-half, perhaps reflective of the recent form and league positions of both sides.

Oliver Norwood went closest for Royals early on, his stinging drive forcing Joe Lewis into action for the first time as he palmed it away from danger.

The game was almost lifeless before the breakthrough for Royals came out of nothing in the 23rd minute.

Jordan Obita whipped in a wonderful cross which Murray headed towards goal. There wasn't much pace on the header but Lewis let it slip through his hands to put the hosts in the ascendancy.

The keeper's frustration was evident as he booted the post after conceding, but Murray couldn't care less as he wheeled off to celebrate.

With Royals comfortable in the lead, chances were at a premium for the remainder of the half, and they entered the break a goal ahead and in command.

Reading were defending well when called upon, but the visitors offered little upfront despite the best efforts of Ishmael Miller and Nathan Delfouneso.

The start of the second-half was similar to the first, but it was Blackpool who threatened first when Edu Oriol's half-volley took a narrow deflection and went just wide of Federici's left-hand post.

But that was as much as Blackpool offered, and their resistance at the other end was broken in the 69th minute when Reading doubled the lead.

A cross was only half-cleared, and with the ball bouncing around, Taylor nodded the ball goalwards as Lewis came rushing out of his goal.

With the keeper beaten, it bobbled into an empty net and Taylor raced off claiming it, although there were suspicions that it had come off Blackpool skipper Peter Clarke.

It could've been three moments later, but only Jamie Mackie – who was fantastic throughout – will know how he didn't score.

Hal Robson-Kanu's initial shot was saved by Lewis, and with the keeper out of his goal, Robson-Kanu rounded him and square it to Mackie, who eight yards out managed to clear the bar and several rows behind the goal.

It never looked like costing Adkins' side though, with Miller hitting the post from a tight angle the only real chance thereafter.

A further gloss was put on the scoreline in added time for Reading, when Nick Blackman was tripped by David Perkins on the edge of the box.

Blackman picked himself up to calmly send Lewis the wrong way and make it the perfect end to a superb day for Royals.

Reading: Federici; Gunter; Hector; Pearce; Obita; Mackie (Blackman - 87'); Akpan;Norwood; Robson-Kanu; Cox (Taylor - 62) Murray (Pogrebnyak - 80') Subs not used: Andersen; Kelly; Kuhl; Cooper.

Blackpool Lewis; Daniels; Clarke; Rentmeister; Orlandi (Mellis - 76'); Perkins; Lundstram; Oriol (Mendy - 61' ); Delfouneso; Zoko (Ranger - 45' ); Miller .

Attendance 15,625 (442)