Reading ended their season with a familiar sense of frustration, falling 1-0 to Blackpool in a match that summed up their campaign: grit, missed chances, and a glimmer of hope from the goalkeeper. Here's how the Royals rated on a disappointing final day.

Joel Pereira: 7
Reading's standout performer by a mile. Pereira kept the scoreline respectable with a crucial first-half tip over the bar from a shot destined for the top corner, and added another fine save late on to spare Leam Richardson an even more awkward lap of appreciation. His xGOT saved numbers continued to impress—beating his own record for a third straight season, a feat no other Reading goalkeeper has managed since the stat was introduced in 2020/21.

Kelvin Abrefa: 6
Making his first start since December 13 after being exiled to PL2 by Richardson, Abrefa slotted in at right wing-back. The role gave him less defensive work, which suited him well. He scrapped effectively with Blackpool's full-back and won several corners by refusing to give up on speculative balls over the top.

Tom McIntyre: 5
Started on the right side of a back three but struggled to find forward passes, mostly resorting to hitting the line for Abrefa in the first half. A costly moment came late in the half when he was caught in possession near the touchline, gifting Blackpool a dangerous opportunity.

Michael Morrison: 6
Saw an awful lot of the ball, with midfielders habitually passing back to him without thinking. Solid in the air as ever, winning headers even with Blackpool players hanging off him. Showed bravery in defensive set pieces, emerging bruised but unbowed.

Sam Hutchinson: 5
Displayed a staggering lack of ambition. Every time he received the ball, he played it backwards—often to a teammate under pressure, putting Reading in trouble. He needs to decide over the summer whether he actually enjoys having the ball at his feet.

Lucas João: 4
Had a chance to put a header on target but skewed it weakly behind, adding to Reading's tally of 13 misplaced shots. The frustration was summed up by a moment when he pulled out of a challenge, drawing groans from the stands.

John Swift: 5
I'll keep reminding fans (and Richardson) that Swift's first interview hinted at big ambitions, but today he looked a shadow of that player. He showed glimpses of creativity but couldn't unlock a stubborn Blackpool defense, and his set pieces lacked their usual venom.

Andy Yiadom: 6
Battled hard down the right but was often isolated. His crossing was erratic, though he did force a decent save from the Blackpool keeper with a driven shot that was straight at him.

Yakou Méïté: 5
Worked tirelessly but with little reward. His physical presence caused problems for Blackpool's defenders, but he couldn't convert any of the few chances that came his way. A frustrating end to a season that promised more.

Tom Ince: 5
Quiet against his former club. Ince struggled to get into the game, with Blackpool's defense doubling up on him whenever he received the ball. He was substituted late on, his head down as he walked off.

Femi Azeez: 6
Brought energy and directness when he came on, but it was too little, too late. His pace caused problems down the left, but the final ball was lacking. A bright spark in an otherwise dim performance.

Reading's season ends with more questions than answers. The summer rebuild starts now—and it needs to be a big one.