STUNG BY BEES
READING 1 BRENTFORD 3
READING were on the wrong end of a Brentford comeback as they lost ground on a promotion rival.
Late goals at the game lastWednesday sawthe Bees overturn a one-goal deficit to continue their unbeaten run.
“We lost a little bit of clarity in the momentswhenwe conceded. We have to learn whenwe conceded it’s not the end of theworld. Wewill look to be proactive.”
Veljko Paunović made a couple of switches as Lewis Gibson and Tom Holmes replaced Andy Yiadom and Omar Richards in the starting eleven.
Meanwhile, Millwall named three former Royals in their starting line-up as Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, George Evans and former academy graduate Jake Cooperwere chosen. Another former Royals graduate, Alex Pearce, was named on the bench for the visitors.
Readingwere put under some early pressure as Millwall won a corner just two minutes into the game after Shaun Williams’ shotwas deflected behind.
Another corner came for the visitors andwith Michael Morrison out on the sideline receiving treatment, Reading were left temporarilywith 10 players andwere almost made to paywith their defensive reinforcements down a number.
Former Royal George Evans found himself free in the box after a short corner routine but couldn’t keep his header down as it skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Reading’s first foray forward came after 14 minuteswith a slick move involving Andy Rinomhota and Ovie Ejaria, but Josh Laurent overhit his cross when he aimed to find Lucas João in the box.
But having survived some early scares, it was Reading whowent ahead against the run of play in the 17th minute in bizarre circumstances.
Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski rolled the ball out but a poor touch allowed Alfa Semedo to clawthe ball away from the visitors and hit a goalwards effortwith his first touch from40 yardswhich caught the Lions keeper out of position and crept into the corner to give the Royals the lead.
Paunović’s side grewin confidence having taken the leadwhen Lucas João had his first sight at goal but scuffed an effort straight at the keeper from 20 yards.
Millwall continued to threaten from set pieceswith their aerial presence as Cooper had a chance at the back post but couldn’t direct his header on target.
Ben Thompson had a brilliant chance for the visitors when a headed clearance dropped hisway in the box just 12 yards out, but he miscued his volley into the ground as Rafael Cabral made a routine stop.
The best play of the half came in the 41st minutewhen Michael Olise showed his magic as he breezed past a cluster of Millwall defenders, cutting in from the right before playing a defence splitting pass to find João through on goal.
The Portuguese forward looked poised to continue his scoring streak, but Millwall keeper Bialkowski dived lowto his right to make a superb stop.
Reading got forwardwith a beautiful move as Ejaria and João traded flicks before Olise’s powerful strike from the edge of the boxwaswell held by the keeper.
João looked to break through the Millwall backline butwas hacked down by Hutchinson andwon a free-kick from 20 yards out. Olise curled an effort towards goalwhichwas parried out by Bialkowski but Rinomhota couldn’t take advantage on the rebound as he struckwide.
Having not created too many clear cut chances throughout the match, Millwall found themselves level in the 76th minute.
A deflected shot squirmed its way through to Smithwho blasted the ball into the roof of the net from close range to equalise.
Ejaria had a superb chance to put Reading back in front just moments after the Millwall goal but his shot crashed off the crossbar.
Millwall stole the lead in the 85th minute as Bennett glanced a headerwhich looped over Rafael and into the corner.
The hostswere unable to clawback an equaliser as they were beaten at home for the second consecutive match.
The Royalswere dealt a further blowas Paunović confirmed that John Swift is due to face a further spell away from the pitchwith a hamstring injury.
“Swift has a long term injury. It is a hamstring injurywhich will take more than sixweeks.”
READING: Rafael, Holmes, McIntyre, Morrison (c), Gibson, Rinomhota, Laurent, Semedo, Ejaria, Olise, João
SUBS: Southwood, Esteves, Yiadom, Richards, Tetek, Aluko, Onen, Camara, Baldock
MILLWALL: Bialkowski, Hutchinson, Cooper, Williams, Thompson, Romeo, Zohore, Malone, Woods, Bodvarsson, Evans
SUBS: Fielding, Pearce, McNamara, Mitchell, Bennett, Bradshaw, Smith, Burey, Wallace
GOALS: Semedo 17′, Smith 76′