Reading 1 (Ingimarsson 27)
Blackpool 0

Reading scraped a 1-0 home win against ten-man Blackpool this evening, and Ivar Ingimarsson's cracking goal proved the defining moment of quality in the game.

There was little between the two teams until our skipper Ingimarsson smashed home from 18 yards on 27 minutes, and when the visitors' Lee Hendrie was sent off just a few minutes later for a high challenge on Marek Matejovsky, the game looked like it would be there for the taking.

We continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession, but found chances to be at a frustrating premium.

Marcus Hahnemann came off injured with 20 minutes to go, and it seemed to give Blackpool a sliver of hope in the final stages. They soon had a goal disallowed, and boss Simon Grayson was sent to the stand when claiming a penalty.

We stood firm though, and had a golden chance to make it 2-0 right on 90 minutes when the impressive Chris Armstrong was fouled in the box, only for Paul Rachubka to make a cracking save from Stephen Hunt's spot kick.

The game  may not have been pretty to watch, but as always the result was the most important thing and we solidified our position near the top of the League table.

Reading: Hahnemann (Federici 71); Rosenior, Armstrong, Duberry, Ingimarsson (c); Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Henry (Convey 82), S Hunt: Doyle, N Hunt (Long 80)
Subs: Harper, Karacan
Booked: Gunnarsson (dissent 66)

Blackpool: Rachubka; Barker, Martin, Edwards (c), Evatt; Hendrie, Southern, Hammill (Fox 34), Reid; Burgess (Dickinson 70), Kabba (Taylor-Fletcher 70)
Subs: Coid, Gow, Dickinson
Booked: Edwards (foul 81), Taylor-Fletcher (foul 85)
Sent off: Hendrie (serious foul play 30)

Attendance: 16,514

Referee: J Singh

World TV: Coppell on Blackpool win
 Clockwatch: Reading 1-0 Blackpool

First half
Reading made three changes to their team, bringing in James Henry, Brynjar Gunnarsson and Marek Matejovsky. Winger Jimmy Kebe missed the game through suspension after losing an appel earlier in the day, while James Harper and Kalifa Cisse were rested. Harper made the bench but Cisse, who has been carrying a minor knee problem, was not in the 16.

The game started without much rhythm, and Reading scrapped their way to a half-chance on nine minutes as Noel Hunt cut in from the left but his effort was stopped.

His brother Stephen went on a decent run seven minutes later after getting onto a Matejovsky ball over the top of the defence, and he went down under a challenge but it didn't look a very strong penalty claim.

It was a stop-start affair, and the visitors' Steve Kabba also looked half-heartedly for a penalty on 25 but there was definitely nothing doing on this occasion.

With 27 gone the deadlock was broken - and in some style from a rather unlikely source. A James Henry free kick created something of a scrap on the edge of the box, and it was shielded for Ivar Ingimarsson to lash home from right on the edge of the area - a top-class strike from our captain that gave Paul Rachubka no chance as it rifled low into the keeper's right hand corner.

Six minutes later Reading's chances were further boosted as Blackpool were reduced to ten men. Lee Hendrie was deemed to have committed a high, dangerous challenge on Matejovsky on the touchline and referee Mr Singh had no hesitation in sending him off - although the former Villa man and his teammates were less than pleased.

Second half
The second period began with Reading having most of the possession but not getting too many chances - although Rachubka had to make a cracking save to deny Brynjar Gunnarsson from range on 53.

The next action of note didn't come until 70 minutes - and it was bad news for Reading as Marcus Hahnemann pulled up injured. It looked innocuous enough as our keeper prepared to kick long from inside his own half - but he tweaked something as he stepped up and had to kick straight out of play to hobble off.

After a moment's treatment Adam Federici was on his place for his first ever appearance in the Championship.

Soon after, Blackpool sub Gary Taylor-Fletcher had a goal disallowed for offside and Blackpool's ten men had a little bit more urgency. Meanwhile, Bobby Convey came on for Henry; the American's first appearance since September.

The visitors pushed, and boss Simon Grayson was sent to the stand as he hotly contested the referee's decision not to award his side a penalty for handball against Stephen Hunt.

The Royals were then given a stonewall spot-kick of their own right on full time when the impressive Chris Armstrong was hacked down after running into the box.

Sub Shane Long wanted to take it, but Stephen Hunt had to wrestle the ball from him, and he probably wished he hadn't when Rachubka made a stunning stop diving left.

Thankfully the miss was of no consequence in the end, and when the final whistle came it was a real relief. We had not found our usual fluency, and against ten men we may have expected a little more - but it was three points and Ingimarsson's goal fully deserved to win the game.