Reading 2 - 2 Millwall

Reading came back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a dramatic draw against Millwall thanks to substitute Mathieu Manset.

Millwall had taken a stranglehold of the game courtesy of headers from Darius Henderson and John Marquis.

The visitors appeared set for victory before the intervention of Manset, who pulled a goal back for Reading with a long range strike after 86 minutes.

He followed that up with an equalising header from Jimmy Kebe's cross.

Reading spent the summer nursing the wounds of their play-off final defeat to Swansea at the end of last season and it seemed they had not fully recovered.

Royals striker Shane Long has been linked with leaving the club and he was struggling to make an impact as both sides cancelled each other out in the first half.

The stalemate lasted until shortly after the break when ex-Reading striker Henderson struck as he got on the end of a cross from the lively James Henry.

The goal stirred Reading and Long into greater action and the striker controlled Jem Karacan's pass before rifling a shot against the crossbar.

Noel Hunt also came close to levelling for Reading but was agonisingly inches away as he strived to meet a drilled Kebe cross before Millwall doubled their lead after 62 minutes.

Henry and Liam Trotter combined to set up Marquis to provide the finishing touch.

Manset was introduced by Reading boss Brian McDermott and the substitution proved an inspired move as he scored twice to rescue a point for the home side.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Reading

01 Federici
02 Griffin
05 Pearce Booked
23 Harte
26 Khumalo
04 Karacan (Robson-Kanu - 68' )
08 Leigertwood
11 McAnuff
14 Kebe
09 Long
10 Hunt (Manset - 68' )

Substitutes

12 McCarthy
06 Gunnarsson
19 Robson-Kanu
37 Obita
22 Manset

Millwall

01 Forde
02 Dunne Booked
03 Craig
05 Robinson
17 Mkandawire
18 Ward
06 Trotter
08 Bouazza (Barron - 68' Booked )
14 Henry (Hackett - 79' )
07 Henderson Booked
09 Marquis Booked (Abdou - 87' )

Substitutes

23 Mildenhall
16 Barron
12 Hackett
19 Racon
26 Abdou

Ref: Bates

Att: 18,531

Match Stats

Possession 60 40

Shots

9 12

On target

3 5

Corners

4 6

Fouls

5 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:46 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +5:46

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Scott Barron, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Paul Robinson goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

90:00 +5:22

Shot from just outside the box by Scott Barron goes over the bar.

90:00 +3:06

Free kick taken by Scott Barron.

90:00 +3:06 Booking

Booking Alex Pearce receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:50

Foul by Alex Pearce on Nadjim Abdou, free kick awarded.

90:00 +1:20

Corner taken by Scott Barron from the left by-line, Header from close range by Paul Robinson clears the bar.

88:28

The assist for the goal came from Jimmy Kebe.

88:28 Goal scored

Goal - Mathieu Manset - Reading 2 - 2 Millwall Mathieu Manset finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Reading 2-2 Millwall.

86:20 Substitution

Substitution Nadjim Abdou comes on in place of John Marquis.

85:17 Goal scored

Goal - Mathieu Manset - Reading 1 - 2 Millwall Mathieu Manset fires in a goal from just outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Reading 1-2 Millwall.

84:03

Jimmy Kebe decides to take a short corner.

83:15

Jobi McAnuff produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that hits the post.

82:44

John Marquis takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.

80:53

Inswinging corner taken by Scott Barron.

78:37 Substitution

Substitution Chris Hackett on for James Henry.

76:43

Unfair challenge on Mikele Leigertwood by John Marquis results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ian Harte.

76:01

Free kick taken by Ian Harte.

76:01 Booking

Booking Scott Barron goes into the book.

75:30

Scott Barron concedes a free kick for a foul on Mikele Leigertwood.

72:35

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ian Harte played to the near post, clearance by Darren Ward.

67:09 Substitution

Substitution Hamer Bouazza goes off and Scott Barron comes on.

67:09 Substitution

Substitution Mathieu Manset on for Noel Hunt.

67:09 Substitution

Substitution Jem Karacan goes off and Hal Robson-Kanu comes on.

67:09 Substitution

Substitution Scott Barron comes on in place of Hamer Bouazza.

67:09 Substitution

Substitution Mathieu Manset replaces Jobi McAnuff.

67:09 Substitution

Substitution Jem Karacan goes off and Hal Robson-Kanu comes on.

65:57

John Marquis is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Federici.

63:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe by Liam Trotter. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ian Harte, clearance by James Henry.

63:15

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff, clearance by Tony Craig.

62:32

Hamer Bouazza takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Shane Long.

61:01 Goal scored

Goal - John Marquis - Reading 0 - 2 Millwall John Marquis finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Reading 0-2 Millwall.

58:50

John Marquis takes a shot. Alex Pearce gets a block in.

56:30

Shane Long takes a shot.

55:07

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ian Harte, David Forde makes a save.

54:02

Adam Federici takes the direct free kick.

54:02 Booking

Booking The referee books John Marquis for unsporting behaviour.

53:40

John Marquis challenges Jem Karacan unfairly and gives away a free kick.

52:45

John Marquis concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Harte. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.

48:54

James Henry provided the assist for the goal.

48:54 Goal scored

Goal - Darius Henderson - Reading 0 - 1 Millwall Darius Henderson grabs a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Reading 0-1 Millwall.