Rotherham 4-0 Reading: Millers storm to first Championship win

Rotheram 4-0 ReadingImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Jamie Lindsay scored one of Rotherham's goals

Rotherham put in a superb performance to thrash Reading and clinch their first Championship win of the season.

Defender Richard Wood opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a floating header from inside the box which sailed into the far corner of the net.

In the 15th minute, striker Conor Washington got on the end of a long Wes Harding pass and fired in off the crossbar for a spectacular finish.

The goals kept coming for the Millers and just three minutes later they netted their third when Reading goalkeeper Joe Lumley inexplicably allowed Jamie Lindsay's effort to squirm through his legs.

Reading conceded a fourth just before the interval when another long ball sailed over their back four and was neatly controlled by striker Chiedozie Ogbene, who calmly rounded Lumley before smashing the ball into an empty net for his second league goal of the season.

Reading's best chance of the game came when Shane Long found Tom Ince, who blasted into the side netting.

Their only other opportunity came from left-back Nesta Guinness-Walker, who volleyed wide from close range in the first half.

The win ended Rotherham's eight-game losing streak against Reading.

The Royals, meanwhile, have now won just one of their nine away league games under boss Paul Ince.

Rotherham manager Paul Warne told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We took our chances well and I'm really pleased. I think the scoreline probably flattered us because we might have been able to score one or two more goals, but I think Reading could probably have scored three or four as well.

"First half was excellent, considering we're playing two small men up top we won a lot of second balls, and the lads had to be at their best today and I think from one to 11 they were.

"Although Reading had more of the ball in the second half and caused us a few problems, we coped well.

"A win, no injuries and the fans go home happy - a great day."

Reading manager Paul Ince told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"That was such a weak performance. We didn't fight in the first half, we just let everyone down.

"It's so disappointing to concede goals early on. We just didn't want to stop crosses and we're not good enough to fall behind and then come back, because our squad isn't good enough right now.

"We lost 4-0 not because of the goalkeeper, but because we weren't on it the first half. We were slow and sloppy. Rotherham bullied us and we made stupid mistakes. Everyone will point their finger at Joe Lumley but he probably saved more goals than he let in because he is top class.

"These games are going to happen. We will pick ourselves up and get over this. The fans were brilliant, they travelled all this way in the stifling heat, and we let them down."

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