Miserable night for Millers

ROTHERHAM United returned empty handed from Reading and could have no complaints with a 3-0 defeat.

A listless performance was punished by a brace from Simon Cox and a first-half strike by Nottingham Forest loanee Jamie Mackie.

He opened the scoring on 29 minutes with a shot on the turn and the Millers were indebted to two fine saves from Adam Collin and the woodwork to keep them in the game in the run-up to half time.

Rotherham rarely threatened, with centre-half Kari Arnason forcing Adam Federici’s first serious save of the night just after the break.

Reading doubled their advantage on 55 minutes when Mackie slipped Cox through to beat Collin and with the Royals growing in confidence, Cox hooked in his second of the night eight minutes later to seal a poor night.

Reading: Federici, Gunter, Kelly, Ferdinand (Hector 46), Pearce Norwood, Williams (Akpan 68), Obita, Cox (Taylor 90), Mackie, Murray

Millers: Collin, Richardson, Skarz (Broadfoot 67), Morgan, Arnason (Milsom 76), Smallwood, Frecklington (Bowery 67), Green, Pringle, Revell, Derbyshire

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northants)

Attendance: 13,775 (342 visitors)