Reading 0-1 Millwall: Jake Cooper heads Lions winner against former club
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Jake Cooper headed Millwall's winner from a corner
Jake Cooper headed Millwall's winner for the second successive game as they beat Reading to close in on the play-off places.
The former Royals defender nodded in a corner late in the first half and that was enough to secure a fifth straight win for his side.
They had to withstand periods of pressure from Reading, who went close to rescuing a point through John Swift and Lucas Joao.
But Millwall saw out the game to climb to 10th place, just three points off sixth, while Reading remain 21st, five points clear of Derby County, who beat fellow relegation strugglers Barnsley.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession in the opening half hour, Millwall were unable to translate that into clear opportunities and Bartosz Bialkowski was called into action at the other end to push away Tom Ince's effort.
The visitors broke through in the 38th minute when Danny McNamara's 25-yard drive was tipped behind and Cooper soared highest from the resulting corner to head into the roof of the net.
Swift almost responded immediately, curling the ball over the defensive wall after Cooper conceded a free-kick, only for Bialkowski to push it over the bar to preserve the lead.
Reading pressed for an equaliser after the break, with Joao - who had netted four goals in his last three games - glancing Swift's corner over the bar.
Midfielder Danny Drinkwater fired a chance wide, while Swift and Andy Yiadom were also off target for the home side.
Scott Malone might have increased Millwall's advantage after Billy Mitchell set him up, but the wing-back's attempt was blocked by Yiadom.
Reading first-team coach Michael Gilkes told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"The performance was positive but we're very disappointed with the result. There was no lack of commitment today, that's for sure.
"Millwall are very consistent at what they do and it was very tight but, when it came to the real crunch in that last third, we just didn't have that clinical finish, that clinical last pass.
"Did we perform? Yes, we did. Did we get the result? No.
"Nothing's really changed for us, we're all in it together - everybody rallying round to make sure we get enough points to stay in this league."
Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC London 94.9:
"The last three or four games we've been very low in numbers, very low in options and the players have had to keep digging in. Today was another example of that.
"I thought we moved the ball quite well without opening a very tight, defensively set up Reading side. It was difficult to find space but we controlled the game.
"At times, because we were a little wasteful in possession, we had to defend but we were resolute and organised and didn't give them very many clear-cut chances.
"It was a great header from Coops, he's really in form both in front of goal and defensively - he really has stepped up. I thought today he put a real captain's performance in."