Reading 0-1 Millwall: Andreas Voglsammer's penalty winner returns Lions to play-off places

Andreas Voglsammer (centre) celebrates putting Millwall in front with a first-half penalty

Andreas Voglsammer converted from the penalty spot to help move Millwall back into the play-off places with a narrow victory over mid-table Reading.

The Lions were gifted the opportunity to take the lead after 11 minutes when Zian Flemming was brought down in the box by Royals goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

Voglsammer make no mistake with his spot-kick and Reading failed to mount much of a response as they went in a goal down at the break.

The Royals enjoyed plenty of second-half possession but could not find a way to test George Long as the visitors held on comfortably for the three points.

The victory moves Millwall into sixth, above Norwich who host Sunderland on Sunday, while Paul Ince's Reading drop a place to 16th after a third-straight defeat.

Millwall's Flemming won the penalty that would ultimately decide the match after latching on to Tom Bradshaw's through ball and being felled by Lumley, allowing Voglsammer to hammer the spot-kick into the top corner.

Jake Cooper then headed wide from George Saville's corner and Bradshaw saw an effort blocked as the Lions looked to double their advantage.

Reading enjoyed a larger share of possession as the first half wore on, but failed to convert it into any meaningful chances.

The hosts pushed forward in the opening stages of the second half with Jeff Hendrick and substitute Lucas Joao combining well but they were still finding it difficult to test the Millwall backline.

With the Royals flooding men forward in search of an equaliser they almost left themselves open to a fast break by Millwall but Amadou Mbengue came back to make an excellent covering tackle to avert the danger.

Reading's top scorer Tom Ince cut inside and struck a long-range effort on 75 minutes but his effort swerved wide of Long's goal as the Royals ended the game without mustering a shot on target.

Flemming made room for a shot in the penalty area late on but could not quite get his effort on goal, as Gary Rowett's side saw out the game without any major concerns.

Reading manager Paul Ince told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"We know what [sort of] game it was going to be. We know how Millwall play and it all boils down to one mistake. Again we've lost a game where there's nothing between the two teams.

"It was always going to be a battle. It was probably a horrible game and not an entertaining game but that's how they [Millwall] make it.

"We're never going to be a team to score three or four but at home we should still create enough chances where we should at least have shots on target. We haven't got the quality that other teams have got.

"I'm disappointed again not to pick something up at home because our home record has been good, so to lose two on the bounce is disappointing. But it wasn't for a lack of effort. The lads have put a lot into it."

Millwall boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio London 94.9:

"Our away form has really picked up and we've had some big performances and big wins. We score a reasonably good early goal and then at times make the game a little hard for ourselves, but what we are is a really resilient team.

"[In the] second half we made it a little easier, we passed it better to nullify their attacks but I don't think they had loads of shots and I think we dealt with it reasonably well.

"The Championship is quite scrappy in general isn't it, there are games where you want more possession and passing quality but it's hard to do that when it's games back-to-back.

"We've won most of the games we've scored first in and we've proved again that we're a hard team to take points off. At the moment the players are doing Millwall proud."