Big victory for Clem thanks to best Meite
READING manager Paul Clement felt his side did well to earn only their second home win of the season.
Victory over Millwall lifted the Royals out of the drop zone, keeping the south Londoners third from bottom.
Third-choice keeper Anssi Jaakkola played his part as a late call-up for both Vito Manonne and Sam Walker
– as the Lions had 26 attempts on goal.
Clement said “We were up against it in the second half, we rode our luck with it a bit and other times we were really there – we stood up and were counted.
“We had to be competitive and aggressive, the spirit of the team was excellent. It was an ugly game at times.
“Jaakkola played very well, he was immense. I don’t pick the team until very close to the kick-off. He’s not third-choice – we have three first-team keepers.”
Finn Jaakkola was called into action twice in the first 16 minutes, blocking from Jed Wallace and saving a Jake Cooper header.
Reading almost went ahead in the 22nd minute when a shot by Liam Kelly hit the post, with James Meredith blocking a rebound from Yakou Meite.
The hosts took the lead six minutes later when Meite headed past keeper Ben Amos from a Tyler Blackett cross.
Millwall were not behind for long as they hit back five minutes later when Murray Wallace poked home from close range.
Clement’s side went ahead again just before the break when Sam Baldock scored from the spot – although Mahlon Romeo appeared to win the ball off Blackett.
Meite put the game to bed in the 85th minute with a free header from a corner.
Millwall boss Neil Harris believed the penalty awarded by ref David Webb changed the game – but felt his side was still wasteful.
“The decision the ref made on the stroke of half time has gone against us,” he said.
“I’ve seen it from two different angles and I think he’s got it wrong. If I see it from another angle and he’s got it right then no problem.”
DEFIANT boss Rafa Benitez insists rock-bottom Newcastle are down but not out after Brighton piled on the agony for his struggling side.
The Geordies have lost of their games so far and are winless since May but asked if he remained confident they will survive, Benitez replied: “Yes.”
But he admitted confidence has taken a bashing.
“Everybody is a bit down now,” he said. “We have lost a game we deserved to win or at least get something from.
“It is difficult to explain when you have these situations. The way we attack and control, we had the chances.
“I’ve said before it would be difficult and it is still difficult but it is a long-distance race.
“We have to keep going and make sure we maintain this level and score goals. I am still convinced.”
What made this latest setback all the more galling was that it was against opponents who had forgotten how to win on their travels.
Brighton had gone 17 away games without a victory prompting Benitez to announce before kick-off this was the perfect fixture to kickstart their season.
It was not to be with Beram Kayal’s 29th-minute winner earning Chris Hughton his first win at the club he led to promotion eight years ago.
Benitez is now breaking the unenviable records predecessor Steve McClaren set during his ill-fated spell in charge. It says everything about Newcastle’s grim predicament.
Even McClaren managed a win at the ninth attempt three seasons ago but for Benitez the wait goes on.
He has already become the first Magpies boss to lose the opening five home games and failure to win at Southampton next week will condemn the club to its worst start to a campaign since 1898-99.
The Toon Army still do not blame Benitez for the current mess even though for the second successive home game they jeered his substitution when he hooked Yoshinori Muto rather than Ayoze Perez for Joselu.
And there was booing at the final whistle after a result which sent Newcastle tumbling to the foot of the table.
Benitez may retain the fans’ backing but owner Mike Ashley’s patience will not last forever.
This was the fourth game in a row he has attended and in that time, Newcastle have picked up a solitary point.
Perez was the Magpies’ top scorer last season but has yet to open his account this term.
He will not have too many better chances than the one presented to him in the fifth minute when Jonjo Shelvey robbed a dawdling Gaetan Bong.
The Spaniard had just Mat Ryan in front of him but could not find a way past the keeper, who saved brilliantly with his legs.
Muto fared little better in the 43rd minute. Ryan kept out a Shelvey shot but when the bouncing ball reached the Japan forward, he headed over a gaping target. Newcastle finished