Millwall disappointed at loss to Reading

Reading 2 Millwall 0

Millwall manager Mark McGhee endured a disappointing return to former club Reading as goals from Nicky Forster and Andy Hughes earned their side a deserved win at the Madejski Stadium.

As a result, McGhee, in charge of the Royals between 1991-94, saw his side’s mini revival – they went into the match on the back of two successive wins - come to an end.

Forster, a danger to the Lions throughout the encounter, continued his purple patch in front of goal to help rejuvenated Reading stretch their impressive run of just one defeat in seven games.

Forster took advantage of an error by Millwall goalkeeper Tony Warner in the sixth minute to score his fifth goal in five games.

A cross from James Harper should have been dealt with by Warner, but the ball sailed over his head and Forster was on hand to head his side in front.

Millwall, who suffered an early blow when Mark Phillips was forced off with an injury in the fourth minute, should have levelled in the 23rd minute.

A Robbie Ryan cross found veteran forward Steve Claridge, the match-winner at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, but his weak header from six yards went wide.

Forster caused panic in the Lions defence once more shortly afterwards and it needed Ryan to hack clear his goalbound shot.

Millwall responded and Claridge had another glimpse of goal but again failed to put his header on target.

Five minutes before the break Forster unleashed a lob out of the blue from 35 yards which Warner was grateful to see fly over the crossbar.

Claridge completed a hat-trick of missed headers and Forster was then unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar just before the break.

Reading were given a chance to take a firmer grip on the game 10 minutes into the second half after a foul by Darren Ward, on for the injured Phillips, on the edge of the box.

However, Nicky Shorey failed to find the target as he aimed to get on the scoresheet for the second successive game after his winning strike against Bradford in midweek.

On the hour, McGhee replaced Claridge with on-loan striker Kevin Davies, but it was Reading who seemed more likely to score with Forster twice going close while Harper scuffed his shot wide.

With 16 minutes left, though, it needed a stunning save from Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to keep his side ahead as he parried Dennis Wise’s close-range shot for a corner.

Glen Johnson, on loan from West Ham, and substitutes Christophe Kinet and Davies wasted late opportunities to salvage something from the game for the visitors.

It proved costly as Hughes made the points safe for Reading in injury time.