After an abysmal first half the Royals took the game by the scruff of the neck, and through sheer effort and determination finally overcame a mediocre Millwall side. It was a crucial win which was looking distinctly unlikely at half time. The recent run now includes three wins and a draw in the last five games and puts the Royals firmly in contention for a play off spot. It is a good time to start winning again!

Millwall started brightly and dominated possession for the opening five minutes but Reading gradually began to create some promising situations. Ingimarsson had a half chance from a corner but his weak effort was blocked. Soon after, Newman beat the offside trap with a well timed run from midfield to get behind the Millwall defence, but no one was able to get on the end of his carefully flighted cross. Promising moves were breaking down as Reading struggled to make their passes count and the crossing was poor from everyone. Little was having a poor game and he was not alone. Hughes made a complete hash of his shot when Kitson glanced a header into his path on the edge of the area. Sonko was mistiming his headers and slicing the ball into touch with alarming regularity. Millwall were equally poor and also squandered possession frequently. Sonko's hesitation gifted Millwall a goal allowing a high ball to bounce on the edge of the area. Dichio took full advantage lobbing the ball comfortably over Hahnemann who was caught a long way off his line. With a few boos ringing in their ears Reading went off at the interval a goal behind.

What difference half time made. Sensing the significance of the result the crowd decided to encourage their team after the restart. The quality of the play was still poor but at least the Royals looked like they wanted to win and Millwall were certainly there for the taking. Coppell turned the game with some positive substitutions to celebrate his new contract. Hughes, Little and Newman made way for Ferdinand, Brooker and Harper.

The officials got the Reading fans going with a rash of incorrect decisions including a blatant shove on Kitson in the area as he rose to meet a cross. It all helped to build the pressure on Millwall as Reading surged forward. The crossing did not get much better with everyone guilty. Murty and Shorey certainly have both had better days. When the ball was delivered into dangerous areas no one seemed to want to attack the ball and the big Millwall defenders were allowed to clear under very little pressure. Brooker began to cause problems as he did on Saturday this time taking players on down the left. Ferdinand provided a much needed focus for Reading attacking play keeping possession and using the ball well.

The crucial breakthrough came when Sidwell slid the ball into the six yard area for Kitson to score from what looked to be an offside position. Reading deserved their equaliser. The game was gathering momentum. Dichio almost restored Millwall's lead with a clever flick which Hahnemann reacted quickly to gather. Moments later the Stadium erupted when Brooker jinked his way past his man and delivered a superb cross for Forster to meet with a well timed run and powerful downward header giving Marshall no chance. Forster was booked for celebrating his goal. (Another pathetic piece of football legislation. Surely a goal celebration enhances the entertainment!)

With seven minutes left plus, four minutes of time mainly added ironically for Millwall's time wasting tactics, the game was far from over. Ferdinand unleashed a rasping thirty yard effort which Marshall pushed away for a corner. Millwall had two very good chances to score in the closing stages. Robinson should have scored but blasted over from just inside the area, and Elliot had a shot deflected narrowly wide. It would have been a great injustice had Millwall scraped a draw.
Report by John Wells