Millwall 0, Reading 1

READING kept alive their play-off hopes with Shaun Goater netting the only goal on Saturday.

Both sides knew defeat would end their hopes of a top-six finish. The Royals' win moved them up to ninth but, more crucially, they are just three points away from a play-off slot.

Their next opponents are newly-promoted West Brom on Saturday at the Madejski Stadium.

At the New Den, Reading opened looking the better side and, on 11 minutes, Dave Kitson was denied by a goal-line clearance from Danny Dichio. Then only a reflex save from Lions' goal-keeper Andy Marshall stopped Adie Williams opening the scoring from the rebound.

The visiting fans did not have long to wait to celebrate as a John Salako corner saw Goater volley home from 12 yards with an unstoppable shot.

The home side were sorely missing suspended midfielder Tim Cahill as Reading had the upper hand until late in the half. Then came a rare moment for Jamie Ashdown to show his ability as he turned a 25-yard shot from Paul Ifill on to the post with his fingertips.

The second half started slowly with neither side creating anything for the first 20 minutes.

Millwall hauled themselves back into the contest with plenty of possession but the Reading defence, under generals Williams and Ricky Newman, stood firm.

The visitors' best chance of increasing their score came when substitute Lloyd Owusu got on the end of an Ashdown goal-kick and flicked on for Kitson, whose shot was just wide from outside the area.

With stoppage time looming, Millwall continued to battle and, when Newman ended Ifill's run with a foul, the Lions had a free-kick 20 yards out.

Peter Sweeney stepped up to take it but could only watch as the ball came off the post and was cleared by Kitson.

In the fourth minute of injury time, Millwall were given another free-kick but, this time, Sweeney curled a shot over the bar just before the final whistle sounded.

Reading: Ashdown, Murty, Hughes, Williams, Newman, Harper, Sidwell, Savage (sub Morgan 73min), Salako, Kitson, Goater (sub Owusu 81min). Subs (not used): Boucaud, Brooker, Young.