Millwall 1-0 Reading, Championship: report, ratings and verdict

VS.

Millwall 4-3-3

1

0

Reading 3-5-1-1

Half Time: 0 - 0 The Den ( Attendance: 11,004 (962) )
1 min

Millwall bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Huddersfield Town with a convincing 1-0 victory against Reading at The Den.

Jed Wallace almost opened the scoring within five minutes with a 30 yard free-kick which was well saved by Reading keeper Luke Southwood while Benik Afobe spurned two chances in the space of ten minutes. 

Reading’s best chance of the half came seconds before the interval, when Ovie Ejaria pulled his low effort narrowly wide of the left hand post.

The game opened up in the second period with Millwall coming close to opening the scoring on the hour mark as Ryan Leonard’s cross looped over Southwood, only to be kept out by the woodwork.

The Reading keeper was busy again moments later, denying Mason Bennett as he went through on goal.

However, Millwall did break the deadlock in the 71st minute as Jed Wallace found Leonard with a dink behind the defence, with the latter putting it on a plate for Afobe to finish from a yard out.

Reading couldn’t muster much of a response and ultimately failed to muster a single shot on target against an impressive Millwall side.

Key Points

Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…

Key Moment

The introduction of Mason Bennett and Scott Malone after the break made all the difference for Millwall’s attacking impetus.

Moan of the Match

Millwall will be disappointed to have only won by the one goal -three points will be welcome, but the finishing was wayward at times.

Talking Point

What is preventing Millwall from performing like this every week? Finally an attacking home display using a back five.

Man of the Match

Ryan Leonard – everything seemed to happen through him once he was moved to wing-back, setting up the goal and coming close to scoring himself.

Tweet of the Match

Referee Watch

Gavin Ward (Surrey) – bizarre decisions throughout gave both sides plenty to complain about. Not a textbook display from the official.

Atmosphere

The second-half performance lifted an edgy atmosphere at The Den and it was a good response to the small number of boos after the half-time whistle.

Verdict

Millwall turned it on in the second-half with probably their best 45 minutes of the season. A 1-0 scoreline is very flattering for the visitors who couldn’t get close to the Lions.

Line Ups

Millwall 4-3-3

Bialkowski; Leonard, Hutchinson, Cooper, M.Wallace; Mitchell, Kieftenbeld (Malone, 46), Saville; J. Wallace, Smith (Bennett, 46), Afobe (McNamara, 87)

Subs not used:

Long, Bradshaw, Ojo, Pearce

Booked

Kieftenbeld, Leonard

Reading 3-5-1-1

Southwood; Holmes, Dann, Moore; Ashcroft, Dele-Bashiru, Laurent, Ejaria (Camara, 83), Rahman-Baba; Swift; Puscas (Clarke, 78)

Subs not used:

Rafael, Ehibhationham, Osorio, Samuels, Abrefa

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