Rotherham United 0-1 Reading: Royals pile misery on struggling Millers
- Published
Reading have now won 16 of their 33 Championship games this season
Reading bounced back from a two-game losing run as they held on to consign Championship strugglers Rotherham United to a fifth straight defeat.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Michael Morrison poked home from close range as the Millers failed to clear.
United fought back after the break and almost levelled after a succession of passes before Reading cleared Ryan Giles' dangerous delivery.
The hosts kept the pressure on late into the game and were almost rewarded when Lewis Wing's long-range drive flew over the bar, but the Royals held on.
The result continues a poor run of form for Rotherham, who had began the month in decent shape, winning four games out of six and moving up to 20th in the table after their victory at Preston on 6 February.
Since then, however, the Millers have lost every game they have played, with defeat ensuring they remained in the relegation zone in 22nd, five points from safety after Birmingham's win over QPR.
The result also represented a turnaround for the Royals who kept pace with their play-off-chasing rivals as they moved up to fifth in the table.
The visitors started the game well as Morrison was given two opportunities to find the opener after his header from Omar Richards' cross had been initially dealt with by Millers keeper Viktor Johansson.
From there, Rotherham struggled to gain parity in a match they needed to win to boost their hopes of survival, with Wing's late strike the closest they came to a leveller.
Rotherham United boss Paul Warne:
"I think against a good Reading team, we created enough to get something out of it. But you're judged by your two boxes and we just weren't good enough in the final third.
"I was just waiting for the net to ripple. Lady luck has eluded us with the deflected shot.
"We have to dig in and fight for survival but I just don't think we are taking our chances in the final third. We didn't do enough to come away with anything."
Reading manager Veljko Paunovic:
"I am very happy with the result and the performance too. The way we played against a team with a peculiar style. It was very hard for us.
"Winning today gives us an important boost and a chance to build new momentum. It was a big win for everyone in the changing room.
"There is a different buzz in the changing room. This was probably the toughest game for me since becoming Reading manager."
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