MX23RW : Wednesday, February 24 14:49:37| >> :120:53772:53772:

Result: Millwall fight back to dent Reading's playoff hopes

Result: Millwall fight back to dent Reading's playoff hopes
© Reuters
Substitutes Matt Smith and Mason Bennett scored in the last 14 minutes for the Lions.

Reading's play-off hopes suffered a blow as Millwall fought back late on to win 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

Although the visitors dominated much of the opening period, the Royals snatched a 17th-minute lead thanks to Alfa Semedo's audacious long-range strike.

The Lions roared back in the second half to clinch victory with goals from substitutes Matt Smith and Mason Bennett in the last 14 minutes.

Reading had been in good form, unbeaten in seven Sky Bet Championship matches until losing 3-1 at home to Brentford on Wednesday evening.

Millwall were undefeated in five league outings, and they began more positively, with Shaun Williams seeing a shot deflected wide and Jake Cooper, the former Reading centre-back, firing wildly over.

They went even closer in the eighth minute, when Scott Malone slung over a cross from the left and George Evans rose alone to meet it.

Evans, another ex-Royal, guided his header towards goal but, with home keeper Rafael well beaten, it thudded against the crossbar.

Reading gradually improved and went ahead nine minutes later, the goal tinged with a touch of fortune.

Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski threw the ball to Williams but the midfielder did not appear to realise that it was coming to him.

Semedo nipped in and, from 35 yards out, the Benfica loanee beat the backtracking Bialkowski with a speculative yet successful first-time finish.

Reading maintained the pressure towards half-time but Millwall could have equalised from a Malone free-kick – Cooper found space at the far post only to nod weakly wide.

Ben Thompson also had a chance, from the edge of the home area, but volleyed straight at Rafael.

Just before the break, Lucas Joao latched on to a fine pass from Michael Olise but Bialkowski made a decisive sprawling stop.

Neither side seemed willing to push too far forward at the start of the second half, the contest increasingly fought out in the middle of the park.

Millwall did attempt to up the tempo but could still not find the target, with Evans volleying over from a good opening.

Reading replied from a quick break but Olise, with time to pick his spot, shot tamely at Bialkowski.

Millwall pushed forward strongly thereafter and were rewarded in the 76th minute when Smith jabbed home from close range after Tom Bradshaw's scuffed shot.

Ovie Ejaria struck the crossbar as Reading tried to respond quickly but, five minutes from the end, Bennett dashed their hopes when popping up to nod home the winner.

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How you voted: Reading vs Millwall

Reading
62.5%
Draw
14.3%
Millwall
23.2%
56
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich32207545252067
2Brentford31169656342257
3Watford31169640211957
4Swansea CitySwansea29168537191856
5Reading32156114437751
6Bournemouth311310845301549
7Cardiff CityCardiff311371146331346
8Middlesbrough32137123734346
9Stoke CityStoke31111283733445
10Barnsley30136113435-145
11Millwall3291673128343
12Bristol City32133163243-1142
13Blackburn RoversBlackburn30116134334939
14Queens Park RangersQPR29109103034-439
15Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest32109132731-439
16Preston North EndPreston31123163442-839
17Luton TownLuton31108132435-1138
18Derby CountyDerby31107142432-837
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield32106163847-936
20Coventry CityCoventry31810132942-1334
21Birmingham CityBirmingham32710152340-1731
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham3085173341-829
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds3097142132-1128
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe3158182351-2823

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