After a goalless draw at Stoke this week, Gary Rowett’s Millwall returned to The Den against a Reading side who unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.

Ryan Woods was handed his debut after completing a loan move from Stoke on Friday.

The visitors had the better of the play in the opening stages, in what was a slow start for the hosts.

Tom Bradshaw was controversially booked for simulation in an early penalty appeal for Millwall.

Referee Keith Stroud was forced to bring play to a temporary halt to talk to both managers after there appeared to be homophobic chanting from a section in the home end.

The Lions grew into the game and in the 29th minute they were presented with their best opportunity of the half. The chance landed on a plate to Bradshaw, with only the keeper to beat, however the strikers’ header failed to test the Reading goalkeeper.

In the final few minutes of the half, Millwall were presented with a glorious chance to go a goal ahead. Matt Smith latched on to a long ball from Jake Cooper, which beat Rafael but the ball trickled past the post for a goal kick.

After a good first-half display from the hosts, they went into the half-time break with very little to show for their efforts.

The Lions were fast out of the blocks after the break, with opportunities first falling to Matteo Romeo and then Smith.

Reading’s best chance of the game fell to John Swift, who could not properly connect with Tyler Blackett’s cross in the 62nd minute.

Smith opened the scoring in the 71st minute, slotting the ball in the corner of the goal after getting on the end of Jed Wallace’s cross.

The visitors responded poorly to going a goal behind and didn’t look like getting back into the game.

The hosts did not sit back on their lead and in the 82nd minute they sealed the win. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson came off the bench against his former club, and perfectly slotted the ball to Rafael’s left after being played through on goal by Connor Mahoney in a counter attack.

It was a well-deserved win for the Lions who dominated the game and have now lost only one game in their last 14 in all competitions. Millwall are now only outside of the playoffs on goal difference, whilst Reading slip to 16th in the table.

Teams:

Millwall: Białkowski, Romeo, Hutchinson (c.), Cooper, M.Wallace, J.Wallace, Woods (Mitchell 90+2), Molumby, Ferguson (Mahoney 68), Bradshaw, Smith (Bödvarsson 79); SUBS: Fielding, Pearce, Mitchell, Skalak, Mahoney, O’Brien, Bödvarsson. (4-4-2).

Reading: Rafael, Gunter, Morrison, Moore (c), Blackett, Adam (Obita 58), Pelé (McCleary 75), Swift, Ejaria, Méïté, Baldock (Puscas 58); SUBS: Walker, Miazga, Rinomhota, Obita, McCleary, McIntyre, Puscas. (4-2-3-1).