Ruben Selles slammed an “unacceptable” first-half display from his struggling Reading side after they were beaten 4-1 by a Jordan Rhodes-inspired Blackpool.
The Royals recorded their biggest win for over a century in midweek, dispatching Exeter 9-0 in the EFL Trophy, but were brought back down to earth on their return to Sky Bet League One action as the hosts raced into a 3-0 lead after 31 minutes.
Three half-time substitutions from Selles did not turn the tide as Rhodes completed his first hat-trick for nearly four years shortly after the break, with Sam Hutchinson’s deflected strike nothing more than a consolation for a Royals side who remain rooted in the bottom four.
“It was not good enough,” Selles said. “We conceded the first goal and then we started to do things we just don’t do.
“We conceded three goals in the first half – and that’s not acceptable. It was nowhere near good enough from any of us today.
“At 3-0 down, I made changes because it was a very radical moment in the game.
“The first 10 or 15 minutes of the game we were not able to control the ball, pass and do the things we usually do.
“We were not able to apply the press and win the second balls in transitions, and the opposition was able to do it.
“We needed something radical to change the dynamic of the game. We got it, but we conceded another goal. That killed our wish to get back into the game.”
Hutchinson’s foul on CJ Hamilton gave Rhodes the chance to open the scoring from the spot and he followed up with a sweet strike into the corner after debutant Kylian Kouassi’s bullet header had doubled the lead.
Rhodes killed off the contest six minutes into the second half and Blackpool boss Neil Critchley had nothing but praise for his side.
“I’m really pleased with that performance,” he said.
“We showed a good response from losing last week. This was more of a Blackpool performance, more of what you associate with a group of players that represents the club and the way that I want them to.
“We took the game to them. I’m delighted with some of the performances, the team and Jordan obviously getting his hat-trick.
“We thought we could get some joy running at their full-backs and that’s how it turned out.
“Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We live in a world of extremes, sometimes you get it right and you’re a hero. But then if you get it wrong you’re an idiot.
“It’s great for the supporters and now we have got to back that up with a good performance against Barnsley next week.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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