Match ends, Millwall 0, Reading 3.
MillwallMillwall0ReadingReading3
Reading consolidated their place in the Championship play-off positions with a comfortable victory at Millwall.
Pavel Pogrebnyak scored his ninth goal of the season when Stephen Bywater's fumble allowed him to slot home and give Reading a half-time lead.
Liam Feeney missed a one-on-one chance to level after the break, before Alex Pearce thumped Reading's second from a tight angle with 18 minutes left.
Daniel Williams added the third from close range four minutes later.
Reading have now scored 15 goals in their past four games, while Millwall have lost six of their past nine league matches and are just two points above the relegation zone.
Despite their poor form, Ian Holloway's side had lost just two home games in 11 ahead of kick-off and they started quickly, forcing Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to deny DJ Campbell - making his full debut - early on.
Steve Morison volleyed over for the home side, before Bywater palmed Jordan Obita's low free-kick behind as Reading settled.
But the former West Ham goalkeeper was at fault for the opener, his failure to collect Chris Gunter's delivery allowing Pogrebnyak to apply a left-footed finish.
The ex-Fulham striker, who has three goals in four matches, constantly tormented a Millwall defence which has conceded more goals than any other side in the division.
McCarthy denied Feeney after the restart when Morison slipped the midfielder through and Reading, who have now won four of their past five league games, took full advantage.
Bywater's parry from Pogrebnyak's header fell into the path of defender Pearce, who scored his first goal of the season, before Williams raced through to add the third, as the Royals stayed four points clear of seventh-placed Ipswich.
Millwall manager Ian Holloway:
"That is obviously the feeling we have had here before I came and it is amazing how quickly it came back. I inherited a situation and I have got to make it better.
"For me I can take some important things from that. In life or football you cannot do anything without structure. We need structure. We need a phase one, a phase two and so on.
"I went to try and get back in the game and that is why the score became as bad as it ended.
"Reading were better than us out there but they weren't three goals better than us."
Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"We have come here able to select the same team for the fifth game running which helps and it was a great workmanlike performance.
"You can see the togetherness of everybody which is great and it was a good three points at a very difficult place to come to.
"Pavel has been top-drawer. He works very hard in training and just epitomises the way the team is at the moment."
Line-ups
Millwall
Formation 4-4-2
- 43Bywater
- 14Fredericks
- 28Malone
- 4WrightSubstituted forEasterat 58'minutes
- 3Shittu
- 16BeeversSubstituted forMarquisat 70'minutes
- 7FeeneySubstituted forMartinat 58'minutes
- 17WilliamsBooked at 42mins
- 22CampbellBooked at 30mins
- 9Morison
- 11Woolford
Substitutes
- 2Dunne
- 5Robinson
- 8Easter
- 13Martin
- 26Abdou
- 32Marquis
- 33Gerrar
Reading
Formation 4-4-2
- 21McCarthy
- 2Gunter
- 37Obita
- 23Williams
- 5PearceBooked at 62mins
- 17Gorkss
- 12McCleary
- 16AkpanSubstituted forTaylorat 33'minutes
- 9Le FondreSubstituted forRobson-Kanuat 78'minutes
- 7PogrebnyakBooked at 64minsSubstituted forBlackmanat 82'minutes
- 11McAnuff
Substitutes
- 1Federici
- 3Kelly
- 10Drenthe
- 19Robson-Kanu
- 22Blackman
- 25Taylor
- 35Hector
- Referee:
- Darren Sheldrake
- Attendance:
- 11,174
Match Stats
Home TeamMillwallAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away8
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Millwall 0, Reading 3.
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Foul by Lee Martin (Millwall).
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Nick Blackman (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Reading. Nick Blackman tries a through ball, but Chris Gunter is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Garath McCleary.
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Attempt blocked. Steve Morison (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Alex McCarthy.
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Attempt saved. Shaun Williams (Millwall) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
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John Marquis (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Kaspars Gorkss (Reading).
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Foul by Martyn Woolford (Millwall).
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Nick Blackman (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Jermaine Easter (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by John Marquis with a headed pass.
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Attempt saved. Daniel Williams (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Foul by John Marquis (Millwall).
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Daniel Williams (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Alex McCarthy.
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Scott Malone (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jake Taylor (Reading).
