A scintillating first-half performance earned Reading a fifth consecutive league victory that keeps alive their slim hopes of automatic promotion from Division One.

Goals from James Harper, Andy Hughes and Nicky Forster in the opening 45 minutes steered Alan Pardew's men to three easy points against a Millers side who had no reply to the Royals' masterclass in attacking football.

The Millers, who still have an outside chance of making the play-offs, battled back gamely in the second half but could not find the spark of creativity needed to dent an unfazed Reading rearguard who consolidated their position of third in the Division One table.

The home side began the game with purpose, and it came of little surprise when they opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark.

Forster waltzed his way past two Rotherham defenders on the right wing before deftly cutting the ball back into the path of the oncoming Harper whose strike from 18 yards nestled in to the top right-hand corner of the net.

The Royals continued to dominate proceedings and doubled their advantage courtesy of Hughes' unstoppable 20-yard strike after 32 minutes. Hughes unlocked the Millers defensive with a precise through-ball that found Forster who tormented the Rotherham rearguard with a mazy dribble before finding the former Notts County man 20 yards from goal. Hughes still had a lot to do, but unleashed a wonderful swerving drive from 20 yards past goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.

And a wonderful first-half display was galvanised with five minutes remaining when the inspirational Forster scored his fourth goal in three games, albeit in controversial circumstances. A long ball into the Millers half saw Forster in a clear offside position but the linesman deemed the striker not to be interfering with play and waved play-on.

Hughes picked the ball up on the right wing and sent over a pinpoint delivery that found Forster who coolly slid the ball home from six yards.

To Rotherham's credit, they refused to throw in the towel and came out fighting in the second half. Striker Alan Lee and substitute Andy Monkhouse had two half-chances to reduce the deficit but Marcus Hahnemann, an uncompromising figure in the Reading goal, gathered comfortably.

Lee went even closer shortly afterwards with a vicious drive from outside of the penalty area but Hahnemann made a terrific save to register his 14th clean sheet of the season and ensure Reading ran out comfortable winners.

Teams

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Williams, Brown, Shorey, Hughes (Henderson 74), Harper, Salako (Watson 81), Sidwell, Chadwick, Forster (Tyson 68).

Subs Not Used: Mackie, Ashdown.

Booked: Williams.

Goals: Harper 15, Hughes 32, Forster 40.

Rotherham Pollitt, Bryan, Mullin, McIntosh, Hurst, Sedgwick, Woodhouse, Swailes, Garner (Monkhouse 53), Lee, Byfield (Richard Barker 78).

Subs Not Used: Gray, Daws, Warne.

Booked: Woodhouse.

Att: 14,816

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).