Reading have swept aside a poor Blackpool side with a 3-0 victory as they recorded three points for the first time in more than a month.

The Royals were by far the dominant side in the first half and Joe Lewis did well to push away an early Oliver Norwood shot.

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They then took the lead they deserved in the 23rd minute, when Glenn Murray guided a header into the back of the net.

Although they continued to pin Blackpool in their own half, they struggled to create any more clear-cut chances as they went into the break just a goal up.

After a limp showing in the first half, Blackpool came close to finding an equaliser when Edu Oriol's deflected strike dropped just wide of the post and from the resulting corner, a header flew narrowly wide.

Hal Robson-Kanu almost made it 2-0, but the forward headed over from Chris Gunter's inviting cross.

It was soon two though, as Jake Taylor headed into an empty net to continue Blackpool's woes.

In stoppage time, substitute Nick Blackman put a gloss on the result with a coolly dispatched penalty.