Reading went eighth in the First Division table with an impressive away result against high-flyers Rotherham United. Reading travelled to Millmoor on the back of two straight league victories and came away with their third straight clean sheet, against a side that probably started the day as favourites for a home victory. The Royals had opportunities to win the match - but it could have swung either way with plenty of chances at both ends. This was probably the right result - a fair reflection of the play - and a result that leaves Reading flying high themselves. The shambolic mess that is "Wimbledon" visit the Madejski next in the league campaign and Reading will be looking for the victory that could lift them into the play-off positions at this early stage of the season.

The enforced absence of last season's player of the season, Graeme Murty, forced Pardew to name Ricky Newman at full back in the only change to the line-up. Newman was to slot in a treat despite his massive time out of the team through injury. The bench included new loan signing Matthew Upson - who is likely to start for the next league encounter after fully recovering from a recent injury himself. Upson played the last minutes minutes of this game, but should start to slot straight in after Reading's defence didn't look totally impressive during the first half. However, we held together reasonably well playing away from home across the whole ninety minutes. Hahnemann gave Phil Whitehead a few promising signs after a rough opening period in goal for Reading. Hahnemann failed to collect a couple of balls played into his area that he committed himself to and showed a weaker side to his game - but he'll be more than relieved to have pulled off yet another clean sheet. Hahnemann redeemed himself with a couple of great saves towards the end of the first half as the home side took the upper hand.

Despite Rotherham's superiority during the first half we could have taken a lead into the break from a couple of chances. Forster had the best one for Reading with about twenty minutes on the clock when he went on an excellent run twisting in and out of players before letting off a powerful shot from outside the area. Unfortunately Forster was denied by the crossbar. Jamie Cureton had our best other chance forcing a save from the keeper just before the break.

Reading gradually started getting more into the game during the second half and threatened to take the full three points. Watson had an opportunity to find the net but put his effort wide and Martin Butler was inches away from connecting with a Jamie Cureton cross which would surely have seen the ball in the back of the net with any real contact. Butler looked to have made up for it with a goal later but found his shot hacked clear from the line by the last defender after doing all the hard work by taking the ball past the goalkeeper. Rougier came of the bench and created a couple of good chances - but we failed to make the most of them. It was to be a day of missed opportunities for the front men as Rotherham proved when they should have stole victory themselves. Twice they found themselves clean through only to put the ball into orbit once and provide a tame back-pass style shot rather than find the net - much to the appreciation of Hahnemann.