Reading 1 Millwall 2 – Super subs do the business as Lions extend unbeaten league run to six matches

BY ALEX GRACE

Millwall extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to six games with a second successive comeback victory.

The Lions trailed at the break but goals from substitutes Matt Smith and Mason Bennett gave Gary Rowett’s men all three points.

Millwall started brightly and forced Rafeal into an early save, Shaun Williams testing the keeper from outside the box in less than  two minutes.

The strong start continued as they rattled the crossbar on seven minutes, Jake Cooper heading Malone’s corner on to the upright.

Reading took the lead against the run of play. Williams was too slow and Alfa Semedo nipped in and hit his shot first time from around 40 yards out and it beat Bart Bialkowski.

Cooper again went close from another dangerous cross from Malone but Cooper’s header was wide of the far post. Bialkowski made a superb stop on 41 minutes to deny Lucas Joao from making it 2-0- getting down low to parry the former Sheffield Wednesday man’s shot.

Millwall got a deserved equaliser on 77 minutes. Malone passed to Tom Bradshaw and his shot hit a Reading defender and fell to fellow sub Smith, who put the ball in the net.

The home side almost retook the lead straight away. Olise’s ball found Ejaria and his effort deflected off a Millwall defender and hit the post.

Millwall took the lead with five minutes left as Malone’s cross was headed in by Bennett.

The Lions move to within eight points of the play-off places after recording back to back victories.