Sonny Carey scored twice as Blackpool ended Reading’s 11-game unbeaten run to dent the Royals’ play-off push with a 3-0 victory at Bloomfield Road.

Steve Bruce’s side boosted their own chances of finishing in the top six in Sky Bet League One with their third successive win.

Reading stopper Joel Pereira produced a good stop to keep out Sonny Carey early on, before Lewis Wing fired an effort over for the Royals midway through the first half.

Shortly after the restart, Pereira pulled off another decent save to tip Carey’s effort past the post.

However, in-form Carey broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when he fired beyond the reach of Pereira after being slipped in by Ashley Fletcher.

The hosts doubled their lead two minutes later when Olly Casey stabbed home after Niall Ennis chested Lee Evans’ cross into his path.

Seasiders’ top scorer Fletcher and Tom Bloxham were both kept out by Pereira.

However, the goalkeeper parried Sammy Silvera’s cross into the path of man-of-the-match Carey, who smashed home his sixth goal in as many games in stoppage time.

Reading drop out of the play-off spots, with Blackpool three points off the pace following their latest success.