millwall deliver one-punch knockout to reading

The Lions had the eighth best away record in the Championship after downing the Royals explain that the German is the club’s first-choice penalty taker, revealing that after the game, he said “‘I’m German, what do you expect? Of course I’m going to score!”.

The visiting fans were happy that he did, as the opportunities dried up immediately. The game was broken up by needless fouls while the battle between Carroll and Millwall defender Charlie Cresswell dictated the flow of the game.

The Reading striker clattered both him and Saville in the buildup to half-time as he miraculously avoided a booking, but the Leeds United loanee got some revenge by wiping him out inside the box as referee Michael Salisbury opted against awarding a penalty.

Chances were sparse immediately after the break. Millwall’s best opportunity came from almost forcing an own-goal, when Voglsammer’s cross was almost turned into the back of the net by Sarr as Lumley came rushing out to try and claim the ball in the 50th minute. Ultimately, they both hesitated allowing the ball to bounce out for a goal kick.

Reading did improve as the clock ticked towards the hour-mark, but the next chance went the way of the Lions. Voglsammer was once again afforded a huge amount of space down the left flank, allowing him to fizz an effort into the box. It looked like Bradshaw would get a touch on it, but he was beaten to the ball by Naby Sarr, who turned it out of the penalty area towards Danny McNamara. The defender had a chance to recycle the ball, but his pass towards Flemming was poor and the Royals were able to regain possession.

The hosts’ only real chance came in the 74th minute, when Millwall’s back line seemed to spread out in order to allow Tom Ince to run towards the edge of the box. He shifted the ball onto his right foot before curling his shot well over the bar.

Ince’s men pushed forward in search of a stoppage-time equaliser, but they almost ended up going 2-0 down when Bradshaw combined with substitute Oliver Burke to win back possession.

The Scottish international raced through on goal, creating a three-on-two situation with Flemming and Bradshaw and picking out the latter, but his touch was too heavy and Lumley was able to gather.

Nonetheless, Millwall got the win, which felt crucial in the context of the promotion battle. It lifted them back into the top six over Norwich City, who lost at home to Sunderland, and showed the rest of the division that the Lions know how to win ugly games of football. With their comparatively easy run-in, they will certainly need to do that again if they are to secure a place in the play-offs. reading: 5-3-2: Lumley; Yiadom (Mbengue 46’), Holmes, Dann (Moore 46’), Sarr, Guinness-Walker (Casadei 60’); Ince, Hendrick, McIntyre (Azeez 78’); Long (Joao 60’), Carroll

Millwall: 4-2-3-1: Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Leonard, Saville; Honeyman (Burke 78’), Flemming, Voglsammer (Hutchinson 78’); Bradshaw