Millwall 1-0 Reading: Late Benik Afobe goal edges out Royals

Millwall have won six of their last nine league games against Reading

A second-half Benik Afobe goal saw Millwall edge past Reading at The Den as the hosts continued their good form in the Championship.

Millwall shaded the first half with midfielder Jed Wallace among those going close with a dangerous free-kick well saved by Luke Southwood.

Reading, whose manager Veljko Paunovic was isolating and watching from home after a positive Covid-19 test, had plenty of possession without finding the net.

Lions boss Gary Rowett brought on Scott Malone and Mason Bennett at half-time and it gave his side the lift they needed as Afobe fired home from Ryan Leonard's 71st-minute cross.

Millwall have now won three of their past four matches and climb to eighth - a point shy of the play-off places - while Reading are five points behind in 17th.

The Royals have struggled away from home this season and failed to register a shot on target.

After Wallace's early free-kick was saved, Reading responded with two efforts from top scorer John Swift, whose first strike was blocked, while his second flew off target after a mazy dribble.

The lively Afobe sent one shot high into the crowd, and another into the palms of Southwood.

Millwall's half-time substitutes gave the hosts more momentum going forward as Malone blasted over before Bennett shot tamely at goal from a tight angle.

With the match heading towards a stalemate, Leonard raced down the right to play in the perfect cross for Afobe, who slotted home from inside the six-yard box.

The home side had an excellent opportunity to make the game safe in the closing stages, but Malone was wayward with a volley and Leonard's low effort crept past the post.

Millwall assistant manager Adam Barrett:

"I just thought, in the second half, that we were a lot more aggressive. The intensity of the press went up.

"I thought he was excellent when he came on, Mason [Bennett].

"The directness of us was led by the front players, which was excellent, and we backed it up all over the park.

"Billy Mitchell was superb in there, second half, and Jed [Wallace] worked his socks off again."

Reading boss Veljko Paunovic:

"In the first half, we were fantastic. We didn't have a good start, but then we got on the ball.

"We changed our shape and the players needed to figure out a little bit how to play in that system. When we did, we controlled the game perfectly.

"We just ran out of tank in the second half and we couldn't do more in the final 15 minutes.

"I really feel fine, despite the positive test, and I'm only feeling minor symptoms. It was horrible being away from the team."