STAND-IN ANSSI TAMES THE LIONS
PAUL Clement praised the fine display of stand-in goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola after his Reading side’s welcome victory over Millwall.
Reading, who had lost five of their previous six home league matches, went ahead when Yakou Meite nodded home in the 28th minute.
Murray Wallace levelled for Millwall six minutes later, but Sam Baldock restored Reading’s lead from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
Despite sustained pressure from the visitors, Reading secured the win with another header from Meite four minutes from time.
With regular keepers Vito Mannone and Sam Walker out injured, Jaakkola played his first match of the season.
“Anssi played very well,” Clement said. “Actually, he was immense. To come in and produce that level of performance shows how professional he is.
“At the other end of the team, we also had a fantastic performance from Meite.
“The penalty came at a good time for us. You then know that you’ve got some things to build on at half-time.”
Millwall manager Neil Harris rued his side’s ill fortune after creating numerous openings.
“You’re probably looking at 14 clear-cut chances and I’d go as far as say six sitters,” said Harris. “We’ve only scored one of them and yet, from the four times that Reading have got the ball in our box, three times it’s gone in the goal. That’s not acceptable.”
Jaakkola had little to do in the opening stages, but he had to be alert with a smart save from Jed Wallace after the Millwall midfielder had been released by Shane Ferguson.
The visitors continued to gain momentum, with Lee Gregory nodding over and then turning sharply before shooting wide.
Jaakkola was called into action again soon after, making a fine stop to keep out a header from ex-Reading defender Jake Cooper.
Nothing had been seen of the home attack until they almost went ahead – totally against the run of play – in the 22nd minute.
Andy Yiadom’s cross caused havoc in the Millwall area, with Liam Kelly striking a post from close range. Meite forced the ball goalwards on the rebound, but James Meredith cleared it off the line.
Six minutes later, Reading did go ahead. Tyler Blackett crossed from the left and the unmarked Meite glanced a near-post header past keeper Ben Amos.
But Millwall were back level in the 34th minute, when Reading failed to clear a corner.
Central defender Murray Wallace was the first to pounce, easily beating Jaakkola from close in.
Reading were quick to regain the advantage, when Mahlon Romeo was harshly adjudged by referee David Webb to have brought down Blackett in the area.
Baldock blasted the minute spot-kick past Amos.
Jaakkola saved well from a powerful Ferguson volley, but Reading made it safe when Meite nodded in an 86th-minute Leandro Bacuna corner.