Tuesday 20 October 2015 22:33, UK
Neil Redfearn earned his first point in charge of Rotherham as they produced a spirited comeback to earn a 1-1 draw and end Reading's four-game winning streak in the Sky Bet Championship.
Redfearn, who was tasting his first slice of action at New York Stadium after his appointment earlier this month, saw his side battle back through Danny Collins' strike early in the second half.
It had looked as if the rampant Nick Blackman was going to give Steve Clarke's men a fifth straight win as his 11th goal of the season - a superb strike from the edge of the area - gave them a deserved first-half lead.
Both sides could have claims to have deserved a late winner but it ended all-square.
Redfearn would have been hoping for a rousing start, but the Millers fell flat as Reading enjoyed almost total domination of possession.
They were unable to create anything, though, and as Rotherham came into the game, they had the best chance of the opening 20 minutes as Ali Al Habsi was forced into a flying save to keep out a super shot-on-the-turn from Matt Derbyshire.
The Millers continued on the front foot but that allowed Reading to threaten on the counter-attack and that is how they took the lead in the 26th minute.
There is no stopping Blackman at the minute and he latched on to Oliver Norwood's long ball and sent a stunning left-footed volley into the top corner from 20 yards.
It was his 11th goal of the season, his 10th in 10 games and also the six successive match he has found the back of the net.
Reading continued to threaten and Orlando Sa almost doubled their lead after an intricate passing move, but Lee Camp did well to get down and beat a low shot away.
Rotherham needed some inspiration and whatever Redfearn said to his men at the break worked as they started the second half in rampant style.
They needed only 129 seconds to draw level as Collins was left completely unmarked at the far post to hammer home Paul Green's corner.
And it should have been an even better start to the half for them but Jonson Clarke-Harris was denied by a fine low save from Al Habsi when the Millers striker really should have buried it.
Reading just could not dominate like they did in the first half and the hosts had another promising moment with 20 minutes left but Tom Thorpe could not get enough purchase on his shot when a loose ball fell to him in the area.
Clarke's men looked to have weathered the storm and were the more threatening as the game entered the final 10 minutes, with Camp producing a stunning save to keep out Matej Vydra's effort from the edge of the area and the former Watford man whizzed over another effort just at the death.
