Reading 3 Rotherham United 0: Bowery’s red card rescinded but that is as good as things get for Millers

Jamie Mackie gave Reading the lead midway through the first half with a precise finish and a second-half brace from top scorer Simon Cox finished off Rotherham.

Reading had won only once in eight league matches and taken five points from a possible 24.

Rotherham, meanwhile, were able to field Jordan Bowery after his red card for an apparent kick at Middlesbrough’s George Friend was rescinded.

Steve Evans’s side, beaten 3-0 at home by Boro in that match, probed early on last night, but without any serious threat.

Reading went ahead in the 29th minute. Stephen Kelly crossed from the right and Mackie, after a heavy first touch, recovered well to turn smartly and curve a fine shot past Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin. The hosts settled the game with two goals in nine minutes.

Mackie ran through the tiring Rotherham defence to set up Cox, who finished precisely in the 55th minute.

Then Mackie again played the provider, in the 64th minute, for Cox to swivel and fire home a clever cross-shot for his seventh goal of the season.

Reading: Federici, Gunter, Ferdinand (Hector 46), Pearce, Stephen Kelly, Mackie, Norwood, Williams (Akpan 68), Obita, Cox (Taylor 90), Murray. Unused substitutes: Robson-Kanu, Blackman, Andersen, Cooper.

Rotherham United: Collin, Richardson, Morgan, Arnason (Milsom 76), Skarz (Broadfoot 67), Pringle, Green, Frecklington (Bowery 67), Smallwood, Revell, Derbyshire. Unused substitutes: Loach, Swift, Taylor, Clarke-Harris.

Referee: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire).