Reading FC boss Mark Bowen stressed the home form is important in wanting to get the fans back in their droves after making it two wins in a row at the Madejski Stadium after beating Millwall 2-1 on Saturday.

Superb strikes from Jordan Obita and Sam Baldock gave the Royals a 2-0 lead at half-time and they could have been further ahead were it not for some brilliant saves from Lions keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Jed Wallace pulled one back for the visitors in the second half but Reading held firm to pick up three vital points in their quest to move up the Championship table.

Bowen said: "The home form is important for me because we have got to get or local fan base back to watch us play.

"They want to see good football and they also want to see results and winning football. That is the most important thing for me.

"It is great playing at home but it is even better to put bums on seats in this stadium but I think we have a lot of payback to do to our fans.

"They have had times where it hasn't quite happened and it has just started. We have to keep pushing and pushing and getting results so we show our community, our local fans, that we are worth coming to watch and spending their hard-earned cash on a Saturday afternoon."

Although Millwall were pushing for an equaliser at the end, Bowen felt his side deserved the points after their wonderful first-half display.

He added: "It was a battle.

"I said to the guys that as Liam Moore went off, we regrouped and they went into the ascendency and it became scrappy for us.

"In the first hour, I thought we dominated the game and dominated possession. You expected a bombshell to go off and that's what happened.

"I said to my guys it was really pleasing that we came through that period in the game where maybe we would have gone under before but we showed a lot of character and resilience."

Bowen also heaped praise on Obita, who's wonderful effort set the Royals on their way.

The Welshman said: "I am absolutely delighted for Jordan.

"He has had a horrific couple of years with injuries. Lonely days on the training ground and on his own in the gym getting himself back to fitness.

"It is times like that where I look at him and think he has a hell of a lot of character."