Naby Sarr's debut header was enough to earn another three points for Reading in a backs to the wall performance against Millwall.

Sarr was one of three changes, with Lucas Joao and Joe Lumley making up the trio from the Middlesbrough win.

In the ever-hostile atmosphere that is the Den, unsurprisingly it was the hosts who provided the early threat. A strong defensive line was held, and keeper Lumley was forced into a terrific save to tip the ball over the bar in the opening 10 minutes. The Royals grew into the game and in the first effort of the match took the lead. A free kick was swung dangerously into the Millwall box and debutant Sarr was lingering with intent at the back post to head home Sam Hutchinson’s flick. Despite a goal being scored, the game itself changed little.

Gary Rowett’s Lions were seeing lots of the ball, especially in the relatively safe area of the halfway line, with an energetic press harrying and hustling the hosts. In a somewhat frantic fashion, neither side were in a hurry to keep the ball at the back, with midfielder scurrying between attackers and pressing to keep what was an intense tempo high. Emergency struck just after the midway stage, with loud cries and whistling coming from the Lower Dockers Stand. A hush fell across this part of South London as a supporter was quickly attended to and the players taken off. With the supporter seen to and taken out of the stadium by medical personnel, the game restarted in what was a slower fashion. Comfortable hitting Millwall on the counterattack, it was Millwall doing the running at the end of the half, as they had at the beginning, although Lumley was barely tested in the net.

If the end of the first half was just going flat, the second half was anything but. Reading set out their stall and were content with inviting pressure and countering where possible. This nearly worked to perfection less than 10 minutes into the half as it was won on the halfway line and driven to the edge of the box. Hendrick was threaded through one on one against the keeper, only to hit it straight at Bartosz Bialkowski.

The final 30 minutes was one way traffic as the visitors and they did have the ball in the back of the net from a free kick, only for the assistant referee and his flag to pause the pandemonium. Ince’s side did have their chances, substitute Shane Long played through against the keeper, only to fire his effort wide of the post. Huff and puff was the name of the game in the closing stages but, as they did last week, Reading held on to claim a third successive win with a clean sheet- and a first win at the Den since 2014.

Next up is a difficult trip to Sheffield United on Tuesday at Bramall Lane.