Match ends, Reading 3, Rotherham United 0.
ReadingReading3RotherhamRotherham United0
Simon Cox scored two second-half goals as Reading secured their second win in nine Championship matches.
Jamie Mackie put the Royals in front by curling in a shot to score his first goal for the club since arriving on a season's loan from Nottingham Forest.
Oliver Norwood hit the bar for Reading with a free-kick before half-time.
But Cox ran on to Mackie's pass to score their second in the 55th minute, before wrapping up victory with a clever cross-shot on the turn.
Reading manager Nigel Adkins, who gave a debut to former QPR centre-back Anton Ferdinand, was able to enjoy a comfortable victory that lifted his side to 13th place, six points from a play-off spot.
Rotherham gave Ferdinand and his Reading defensive colleagues some early problems, with goalkeeper Adam Federici tested by Matt Derbyshire's firm header from a Paul Green cross.
But the home side went ahead when Stephen Kelly crossed from the right and Scotland forward Mackie, after a heavy first touch, recovered well to turn and curl a fine shot past Adam Collin.
The Rotherham keeper then produced two agile saves - one to stop Cox's fierce shot, the second to deny Mackie - but could only watch as Norwood's free-kick from wide out on the left struck the bar.
The visitors responded briefly, when Federici saved a direct header from Kari Arnason, but Reading settled the game with two goals in nine minutes.
Mackie ran through the tiring Rotherham defence to set up Cox, who finished precisely.
Then Mackie played provider for Republic of Ireland international Cox to swivel and score his seventh goal of the season.
Reading ran down the clock thereafter, with Rotherham unable to pose any problems as they fell to a second successive 3-0 defeat.
Reading manager Nigel Adkins, who recalled Jamie Mackie and Simon Cox after dropping them for Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Blackburn: "I hope Jamie and Simon have got the bit between their teeth now.
"Jamie's been top drawer for us and he's done tonight exactly what I told him last Friday he was going to do.
"In fact, we should have scored some more goals. Their keeper's made some great saves. We created some great opportunities."
Rotherham manager Steve Evans: "We lacked almost everything from start to finish. There was nothing good about our game at all.
"If you are not prepared to play at this level, then you must prepare to fail at this level. We were poor all over the pitch. There was a lack of endeavour, spirit and fight."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Federici
- 2GunterBooked at 89mins
- 4FerdinandSubstituted forHectorat 45'minutes
- 5Pearce
- 3Kelly
- 19Mackie
- 6Norwood
- 23WilliamsSubstituted forAkpanat 68'minutesBooked at 71mins
- 11Obita
- 10CoxSubstituted forTaylorat 90'minutes
- 20Murray
Substitutes
- 9Robson-Kanu
- 15Hector
- 16Akpan
- 22Blackman
- 25Taylor
- 31Andersen
- 35Cooper
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Collin
- 16Richardson
- 20MorganBooked at 44mins
- 4ArnasonBooked at 70minsSubstituted forMilsomat 76'minutes
- 3SkarzSubstituted forBroadfootat 67'minutes
- 18Pringle
- 11Green
- 8FrecklingtonSubstituted forBoweryat 67'minutes
- 33Smallwood
- 9Revell
- 27Derbyshire
Substitutes
- 1Loach
- 5Broadfoot
- 10Bowery
- 15Milsom
- 25Swift
- 26Taylor
- 29Clarke-Harris
- Referee:
- Pat Miller
- Attendance:
- 13,775
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamRotherham
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home8
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 3, Rotherham United 0.
Post update
Foul by Jamie Mackie (Reading).
Post update
Kirk Broadfoot (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Jake Taylor replaces Simon Cox.
Booking
Chris Gunter (Reading) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Matt Derbyshire (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Alex Pearce (Reading).
Post update
Glenn Murray (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Glenn Murray (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Michael Hector.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Hope Akpan (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Michael Hector (Reading) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Craig Morgan (Rotherham United).
Post update
Glenn Murray (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Alex Revell (Rotherham United).
Post update
Michael Hector (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Michael Hector (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Frazer Richardson.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Frazer Richardson.
