Veljko joy but it’s Mor pain for Warne
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MICHAEL MORRISON steered Reading’s promotion bid back on course and condemned Paul Warne’s relegationthreatened Rotherham to a fifth straight loss.
The defender secured the points for Veljko Paunovic’s side midway through the first half, poking home from close range after Millers keeper Viktor Johansson parried his initial header.
Royals boss Paunovic said: “I’m very happy with the result and the performance against a team with a peculiar style.
“Winning today gives us an important boost. Last time we had guys crying but this time it’s a different emotion.
“This was probably the toughest game I’ve had since becoming manager of Reading.”
Chances were scarce throughout but Reading always held the upper hand once Morrison fired them ahead.
Paunovic was delighted with his players’ character, adding: “At this point in the season, playing fancy is wrong. We have to be ruthless.”
Rotherham’s misery was compounded by a hamstring injury to Clark Robertson which forced him to go off in the 15th minute.
Millers boss Warne said: “You are judged on what you do in the box and we’ve had five defeats on the spin.
“All by just one goal, but it’s still five defeats and we have 15 games now to dig in and fight for survival.
“We are creating chances but not taking them.”
ROTHERHAM: Johanson 6; Harding 6, A MacDonald 6, Robertson 6 (Wiles (15th)
6); Olosunde 6; Wing 6 (Hirst 80th), S MacDonald 6 (Clarke (66th) 7), Crooks
6, Giles 6 (Sadlier (66th) 6); Ladapo 6 (Jozefzoon 80th), Smith 7
READING: Cabral 6; Yiadom 6, Morrison 8, Moore 6, Richards 6; Semedo 6, Laurent
6; Rinomhota 6 (Esteves 87th), Olise 7 (Holmes 90th); Ejaria 6 (McIntyre 76th); Joao 6
Michael Morrison D Coote