Published: Saturday, 21st November, 2009 2:00pm

LIVE - Reading v Blackpool

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Live updates from today's clash at the Madejski Stadium right here...........

FULL TIME. Reading 2 Blackpool 1.

And that's it, Royals finally end a 10-month winless home run with a richly deserved victory against Blackpool.

Substitute Grzegorz Rasiak scored the all-important winner eight minutes from time after Blackpool's Brett Ormerod has cancelled out Gylfi Sigurdsson's opening goal.

It was nothing more than Brendan Rodgers' side deserved - and to be fair it has been coming in recent games.

Rodgers finished by striding out to the centre circle to applaud the fans who in turn show their appreciation.

What a difference that makes to a few weeks ago when some fans were calling for Rodgers' head.

Maybe there are signs that Royals are heading in the right direction under Rodgers after a difficult start.

Time will tell but at least they can now put this home curse behind them and start looking up the table.

90 mins. And another let off for Royals as Alex Baptiste heads over the bar from a good position. Phew!

90 mins. It's hammering down with rain now as the fourth official signals five minutes of added time, which is greeted by boos fron the nervous Readinig fans.

Ian Evatt just had a chance to equalise but lifted his shot over the bar, much to Royals' relief.

85 mins. Blackpool's Gary Taylor-Fletcher is on for Brett Ormerod.

82 mins. GOAL. And Reading go in front again with just eight minutes left.

And GRZEGORZ RASIAK has made an instant impact by scoring what could be the winner.

The Polish striker saw his first header beaten away by Matt Gilks.

However, Royals won the ball back and Marek Matejovsky curled in a delicious cross which Rasiak met with a diving back-post header across the keeper and into the far corner.

A brilliant finish from Rasiak for his fourth of the season.

And Royals fans are loving this as they finally sense the end of this horrendous home run.

81 mins. That was nearly a sucker punch for Royals.

Jason Euell was given far too much time on the ball to tee up Ben Burgess who saw his curling effort float inches over the bar.

77 mins. Not much happening at the moment.

The attendance is 15,945 with 1,116 from Blackpool.

Time is running out now. Looks like Brian Howard is pushing forward to support Rasiak.

69 mins. Well, what a story we have here.

Simon Church has just hobbled off after injuring himself while trying to keep the ball in play.

He sprinted towards it but fell awkwardly onto the track area that goes around the pitch.

He was treated for a while but is obviously too hurt to carry on.

As if Reading haven't got enough injury worries up front already.

Anyway, Grzegorz Rasiak is now on and Brendan Rodgers has also taken off his goalscorer Sigurdsson and sent on Jem Karacan for fresh legs in midfield.

66 mins. Tangerines boss Ian Holloway makes a change. Billy Clarke is on for Keith Southern.

We're into the last quarter of the game now.

62 mins. Reading almost went in front again there through an own goal.

Brian Howard sent over a dangerous corner and luckily Matt Gilks was on his toes to keep out a header from his own defender, Keith Southern.

57 mins. GOAL. And Blackpool hit back almost immediately with an equaliser.

Ben Burgess started the move before Charlie Adam crossed and BRETT ORMEROD tucked it away neatly.

What a massive blow that is. But there's still plenty of time for a winner yet....

52 mins. GOAL. And Readiing take the lead.

Marek Matejovsky initially lost the ball in midfield but Royals retrieve it before McAnuff bursts down the right.

He then squares the ball, Simon Church lets it run and GYLFI SIGURDSSON arrives from midfield to take a touch before slipping it past Matt Gilks for his third of the season.

That's nothing more than Royals deserve.

51 mins. This time Church comes to his side's rescue by blocking Ian Evatt's header in front of goal.

46 mins. Reading make one change at half time. Hal Robson-Kanu has replaced Jimmy kebe who presumably picked up an injury.

Blackpool also lose Stephen Craine to injury and send on Joe Martin.

Blackpool start well and Federici is alert to save from Charlie Adam.

45 mins. HALF TIME. Reading 0 Blackpool 0.

And Royals walk off to a standing ovation after an excellent first-half.

They dominated from the first-whistle and have created umpteen chances, none of which they could sadly take.

Simon Church went closest when his effort struck the post and the youngster has threatened at least twice more and had a decent penalty shout turned down by the referee.

Jobi McAnuff, Jimmy Kebe and Gylfi Sigurdsson also wasted opportunities.

Blackpool have had little possession but still managed to hit the post themselves through Ben Burgess who shoud, really, have scored.

So all to play for here.........

44 mins. Royals are really going for it now. Sigurdsson has just forced a decent save out of Matt Gilks.

Then there were cries of a penalty as Simon Church looked to have been shoved in the back by Ian Evatt. But the referee turned the other way.

42 mins. A very lucky escape from Reading there as they almost fall behind.

The defence failed to deal with a ball into the box and Ben Burgess couldn't believe his luck when the ball ran to him 10 yards out and with no-one close.

The burly striker took aim and though his shot beat Adam Federici it rattled the inside of the post.

36 mins. Church has just shot on the turn but scoops it over the bar. the youngster is furious with the ref and complains that Blackpool defender Ian Evatt was tugging his shirt. But Graham Scott is not listening.

Another slick move from Reading ends with nothing. Frustrating. Grrrrrrr.......

35 mins. Simon Church drags one wide of the far post but it was a difficult chance.

30 mins. The last five minutes have been fairly quiet.

Saying that, the linesman just made a close call to flag Simon Church for offside. The Wales star would have been clean through on goal.

25 mins. The first signs of adventure from Blackpool as Ben Burgess spins and shoots in the box only for Adam Federici to make a smart save down to his right.

Charlie Adam has also been booked for the visitors.

20 mins. Now Simon Church goes close to breaking the deadlock. Jimmy Kebe burst down the right before whipping in a cross. Church flung himself at it and his glancing header missed going in the far corner by centimetres. So close.

15 mins. Sigurdsson just saw his shot from the edge of the area roll inches wide of the far post.

Blackpool have hardly touched the ball yet. But once again Reading simply can't put the ball in the net.

Still, long way to go......

12 mins. Another great chance goes begging for the Royals. The excellent McAnuff clipped a lovely cross to the back-post and although Jimmy Kebe connected well with a first-time volley, the ball flew straight at the keeper. This is ridiculous.

10 mins. Reading have just hit the post. Simon Church turned a Gylfi Sigurdsson corner towardrs goal but the ball struck the near post and out to safety. How unlucky was that?

7 mins. Superb first touch from McAnuff there to win a free-kick 25 yards out. Brian Howard whips it over the wall but Gilks catches.

Still, a lively start by Reading and McAnuff.

6 mins. Another dangerous run from Jobi McAnuff ends with Matt Gilkes punching the ball away at his near post with two Reading players lined up in the box.

3pm. We're underway and Royals start brilliantly andf so nearly go in front just 45 seconds in.

Jobi McAnuff cut inside a Pool defender with ease and tried to curl the ball into the far corner. Luckily for the visitors, keeper Matt Gilkes got a fingertip to it and it went out for a corner. Still, a bright start from the home side.

2.50pm. Around 10 minutes to go now and the stands are filling up.

Just a thought, is Rodgers going with one up front simply because he can't afford to play two strikers in case one gets injured?

After all, there are only TWO fit strikers at the club right now with Noel Hunt out for the season and Shane Long sidelined with an ankle problem.

Rodgers talked about signing a forward on loan this week - and it couldn't come sooner enough!!

Reading have scored a meagre three goals in eight home games this season and that HAS to change if they to get out of trouble.

TEAMS

Reading: Federici, Tabb, Ingimarsson, Pearce, Bertrand, Kebe, Matejovsky, Howard, Sigurdsson, McAnuff, Church. Subs: Cisse, Mills, Gunnarsson, Robson-Kanu, Karacan, Rasiak, Hamer.

Blackpool: Gilks, Crainey, Southern, Evatt, Seip, Vaughan, Baptiste, Euell, Adam, Omerod, Burgess. Subs: Rachubka, Eardley, Clarke, Taylor-Fletcher, Martin, Bangura, Edwards.

The referee is Graham Scott.

2.30pm. The team sheets are in just as it starts lashing down with rain here.

Reading boss Brendan Rodgers makes one change to the side which started in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich here two weeks ago.

And perhaps it's a surprise as Jimmy Kebe comes in for Grzegorz Rasiak.

Presumably that means Simon Church will start up front on his own and Royals will revert to a 4-5-1 system, or 4-3-3 depending on your view.

Blackpool, meanwhile, start the day in sixth place and are unbeaten in five under Ian Holloway.

The Tangerines hand a start to Jason Euell who is one of Jobi McAnuff's mates from their Wimbledon days.

Good afternoon and welcome to today's Championship clash from the Madejski Stadium.

Needless to say it, Royals desperately need to end this crazy home run and claim their first Championship win at the Mad Stad since January.

And MAD is exactly what it's been. Seventeen league games - including play-offs - without a victory tells its own depressing story.

But - and even though Royals start today in the bottom three - they have been steadily improving in recent weeks.

Face it, they should have beaten Leicester (lost 1-0) and Ipswich (drew 1-1) here and at least they ygot what they deserved at Leicester where they played their best football of the season and won 3-1.

So, after a two-week international break, can they go that one step further and do the business in front of their own, expectant fans. We'll soon see..........

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