Blackpool boss Michael Appleton was full of praise for Reading, despite the Royals falling to a narrow defeat.

Callum Connolly scored the only goal of the game in the opening 15 minutes as the hosts started like a house on fire at Bloomfield Road.

The visitors rallied and were hard done by to not take something away from the game, especially in the second period.

Taking charge of his first match in his second spell as Tangerines manager, Appleton graciously praised the travelling side.

Talking to the media after the win in Lancashire, he said: "When you don't take those opportunities, you're going to give the opposition a chance at this level and there were instances where we did that. I though the final few minutes of the first half were a bit scrappy, and then when Josh hit the post in the second half and the ball goes straight to the goalkeeper, I think that gave them a bit of lift. 

"I've got to say for the last 30 minutes, I thought Reading played well, but we did well to dig-in and hold into the lead. It was a long second half, but I was calm throughout as we are a work-in progress. We've had to make lots of changes throughout the game and are asking certain players to play in slightly different roles than what they may be used to."