"For two thirds of this season we have looked one of the strongest sides in the Championship and with four games to go we must get strong again."
Blackpool boss Tony Parkes was delighted.
"We are enjoying a good little run and have only lost one in seven games but two teams below us won today and that keeps on the pressure.
"We were slow out of the blocks today and Reading are a strong side who have aspirations for the Premiership and hit us with two early goals.
"It took some character to come back and we scored just at the right time before the break. That was a vital goal and lifted us for the second half."
Southern also saluted his team's spirit to come from two goals down, saying: "When we went two behind you felt it could have been three, four or five but we showed what sort of character we've got to come back like that.
"This club is doing magnificently. We have the lowest gates and stringent finances but we are still a Championship side."