Blackpool manager Ian Evatt has publicly backed his players to bounce back, insisting he has "full confidence" in the squad ahead of the club's League One trip to Reading.

Speaking to Radio Lancashire, Evatt was characteristically direct in his assessment of where Blackpool stand and what he expects from his side on the road. The comments, made on 4 September, come at a point in the season when results have placed the Seasiders under scrutiny, and the manager was keen to underline that belief in his group remains unshaken.

Evatt's message to the squad

"I have full confidence in my players," Evatt said, according to the Radio Lancashire interview. The tone was unambiguous: the Blackpool head coach is not wavering in his trust, regardless of whatever pressure has been building around the club in recent weeks.

Evatt has spoken previously about the importance of a collective response when things do not go to plan, and this latest address appears very much in that vein. He has consistently emphasised accountability and mental resilience as central to his managerial approach at Bloomfield Road, and those themes resurfaced in his pre-match remarks.

The trip to Reading

Blackpool head to the Select Car Leasing Stadium to face Reading, a fellow League One side who will provide a stiff examination. Reading have shown themselves to be a force in the third tier this season, and the match represents a significant test of whether Evatt's confidence in his players is well-founded.

It is understood the Seasiders will be looking to rediscover the kind of form that brought them a 4-0 victory earlier in the campaign, a result that briefly lifted mood around the club. That display demonstrated what Blackpool are capable of when clicking, and Evatt will be hoping to see those standards reproduced against one of the division's stronger outfits.

For Reading, the fixture presents its own set of considerations. The hosts will be well aware that Blackpool, under Evatt, rarely travel without a gameplan, as evidenced by the manager's own words following the club's visit to Stockport, where he praised his side's tactical discipline.

Blackpool's broader picture

Evatt's tenure at Blackpool has been defined by a desire to build something sustainable in League One. His side have operated within clear structures in the transfer market this summer, bringing in returning loanee Jordan Yates from Luton on a season-long arrangement and losing Kouassi to Colchester in an outgoing deal, among other movements.

Retaining managerial composure during difficult stretches is something Evatt has spoken about at length, and the Radio Lancashire interview suggests he is not departing from that approach now. Whether the players can translate that faith into a positive result at Reading will go some way to shaping Blackpool's early-season momentum in the third tier.

The match, when it comes, will be closely watched by both sets of supporters. League One fixtures between clubs of this stature carry genuine weight in the promotion and relegation conversation, and a result either way could prove significant as the campaign finds its rhythm.

Frequently asked

What did Ian Evatt say about Blackpool before the Reading game?
Speaking to Radio Lancashire, Blackpool manager Ian Evatt said he has full confidence in his players and backed them to respond positively ahead of the League One trip to Reading.
When do Blackpool play Reading in League One?
Blackpool's League One fixture at Reading was the subject of Ian Evatt's pre-match comments made on 4 September, according to Radio Lancashire.
How have Blackpool been performing in League One this season?
Blackpool have had mixed results in League One, including a 4-0 win and some disappointing defeats, with manager Ian Evatt calling on his side to respond consistently.