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Callum McManaman scored his first goal for Blackpool as Reading lost for the first time in three Championship matches.

McManaman, on loan from Wigan, beat the Royals keeper Adam Federici with a superb curling effort 10 minutes after half-time to give his side all three points.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead in the 35th minute when Simon Church put the ball in the net, only for his effort to be ruled offside. Blackpool had struggled in the opening 45 minutes, and Reading might have scored through any one of Adam Le Fondre, Hal Robson-Kanu or Jimmy Kébé.

Both teams had claims for penalties turned down, Blackpool for an apparent foul by Shaun Cummings on McManaman and Reading for a push on Alex Pearce.

Le Fondre, restored to the Reading starting line-up in place of the injured Noel Hunt, had the first opportunity of the match – sending an ambitious overhead kick high over the Blackpool goal after four minutes.

The hosts quickly rallied, with Lomana LuaLua firing narrowly wide, as the match opened up at a frenetic pace.

The game's first flashpoint came just before the quarter-hour mark. McManaman was brought down by Cummings on the edge of the area and the Blackpool players wanted a penalty, only for the referee, Mark Brown, to wave away the Tangerines' claims.

With the home manager, Ian Holloway, still fuming on the sidelines, Blackpool almost found themselves behind moments later. Cummings provided a pin-point cross and Le Fondre leapt at the back post to put a free header wide.

But the referee then turned down Reading claims for a penalty before half-time after Pearce fell under pressure in the box. McManaman made Blackpool's second-half pressure pay following a pass from Matt Phillips.

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