Reading 3-0 Rotherham United

Jamie Mackie scored Reading's opener - his first goal for the club

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."