Saturday Match File ... Lee Clark's call as Leam Richardson's Reading head to New York Stadium to take on Rotherham United

Tomorrow sees AESSEAL New York Stadium’s last match of the 2025/26 League One season and the boss wants his relegated side to build on the best parts of their 2-0 loss against play-off-chasing Luton Town in midweek when they face Reading.

The Millers were two goals down at the break but didn't concede again and created several opportunities to reduce the deficit.

Clark said: “I like the saying: ‘Respect your opponent but don't fear them.’ We respected Luton but we also feared them a little bit in the first half.

“We respected them in the second half but didn't fear them and we created lots of chances. If my players can give me that again, give me that intensity without the ball, it gives us a good chance of finishing the season on our own soil with a win.”

Rotherham haven't won at New York since a 1-0 triumph over Plymouth Argyle in February when Matt Hamshaw was still in the hot-seat.

Reading head to S60 seeking to end a losing streak that has wrecked their hopes of promotion.

At one stage, they were eyeing a play-off spot, but three successive defeats have dropped them to 10th place, nine points away from the top six with only two matches left.

**********

One to watch

Reading midfielder Lewis Wing spent the latter part of the 2020/21 Covid season on loan with Rotherham from Middlesbrough and did so well that the Millers would have liked to have signed him again for the following season. He left Boro for Wycombe Wanderers in 2022 and made the switch to the Royals a year later. Now aged 30, he has an eye for a goal and has hit the target 12 times in 46 appearances this term. He angered Millers fans with his comments about his spell in S60 when he went on to have a temporary stint with Sheffield Wednesday soon afterwards. He said: “I enjoyed my time there. It served its purpose. But I didn’t really want to go back.”

Form guide

Millers: DLLLWL

Reading: LWDLLL

The Royals lost 1-0 at Doncaster Rovers on April 11 and last weekend were beaten 3-1 at home by Cardiff City in a match that saw the Bluebirds promoted.

Fifty-four contests between the clubs since 1969 have brought 12 wins for Rotherham and 25 for Reading.

Recent meetings

Nov 22 2025, League One: Reading 1 Millers 1

Josh Benson

Feb 15 2025, League One: Reading 1 Millers 1

Sam Nombe pen

Oct 5 2024, League One: Millers 2 Reading 1

Nombe, Hakeem Odoffin

Feb 14 2023, Championship: Reading 2 Millers 1

Lee Peltier

Aug 13 2022, Championship: Millers 4 Reading 0

Richard Wood, Conor Washington, Jamie Lindsay, Chiedozie Ogbene

Feb 27 2021, Championship: Millers 0 Reading 1

Oct 24 2020, Championship: Reading 3 Millers 0

Last clash

Rotherham looked to be heading for victory at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in November as they led through Josh Benson's goal, but a moment of magic from Charlie Savage – who fired a stunning first-time effort into the top corner of the net in the 78th minute – saw the match finish 1-1.

Opposition boss

Reading's manager is a familiar face to Rotherham fans, having been head coach of the Millers in his previous job. Leam Richardson replaced Matt Taylor during the 2023/24 Championship relegation season and lasted for less than five months before being relieved of his duties to make way for the return of Steve Evans. The 45-year-old, who led Wigan Athletic to the League One title in 2022, was out of work until taking the Royals hot-seat in late October following the sacking of Noel Hunt.

Man in the middle

John Brooks, from Leicestershire, usually referees in the Premier League and he is also on the FIFA list, which means he handles European and international games. Born in 1990, he took up refereeing when he was a teenager and made it into the EFL in 2016. His last experience of the Millers came in April 2021 when he took charge of their 1-0 Championship loss at Millwall.

The odds

The bookmakers are offering a Millers win at 7/4 and a Royals triumph at 13/10. A draw is 12/5.