Michael Proctor scored twice on his debut to help guide Rotherham to a first victory since Boxing Day and dent Reading's fading play-off aspirations.

Proctor, who joined the South Yorkshire outfit on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Sunderland on Friday - with Darren Byfield going the other way - kept his nerve to finish from the spot to cancel out former Rotherham striker Shaun Goater's 20th-minute penalty.

Andy Monkhouse's stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area gave the home side the edge at half-time and any hopes Reading had of leaving Millmoor with at least a point were dashed when Martin Butler - who joined Rotherham from the visitors in August - scored from close range against his former employers after 47 minutes.

But Proctor was to steal the headlines with a superb display of close control and predatory finishing to add a fourth.

Substitute Richie Barker's last-minute strike completed the rout as Steve Coppell's men trudged off the field to a crescendo of jeers from their supporters.

However, on practically their first foray into the Rotherham half, Reading opened the scoring after 20 minutes.

Lloyd Owusu bamboozled Shaun Barker with his quick feet before charging in on goal.

Barker was completely outfoxed by the former Brentford striker and succeeded only in clipping his heels in the penalty area.

Referee Richard Beeby had little choice other than to point to the spot, and Goater converted the penalty with aplomb.

Four minutes later, parity was restored by Proctor.

Butler, who joined Rotherham from Reading in August, bustled his way into the box and was just about to pull the trigger only for Adie Williams to take the striker clean out with a crude challenge.

Beeby awarded his second penalty of the afternoon, and Proctor went some way to proving his worth to his new supporters with a crisp finish which left Marcus Hahnemann with no chance.

The home side were well on top and, following on a sustained spell of pressure, got their noses in front after 36 minutes.

Barker's long throw was not dealt with by the Royals' defence and Monkhouse was on hand to control the ball expertly before rifling a superb volley into the top corner of the net.

Two minutes after the break, Butler put clear blue water between the sides with a fine finish from close range after good work from Chris Sedgwick.

The Royals' attempts at making comeback came to nothing and after a quick Darren Garner free-kick, Proctor crowned a memorable debut with a supreme piece of wizardry to chip the ball over the onrushing Hahnemann from close range.

Reading were down and out and Barker, who replaced Butler after 85 minutes, compounded their misery with a fine finish at the death.

Rotherham Pollitt, Hurst, Shaun Barker, Swailes, Minto, Sedgwick, Mullin (Talbot 90), Garner, Monkhouse (Warne 80), Butler (Richard Barker 85), Proctor.

Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Baudet.

Booked: Monkhouse, Butler.

Goals: Proctor 24 pen, Monkhouse 36, Butler 47, Proctor 79, Richard Barker 90.

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Brown (Newman 69), Williams, Shorey, Hughes (Murray 69), Sidwell, Watson, Salako, Goater, Owusu.

Subs Not Used: Kitson, Harper, Young.

Booked: Williams.

Goals: Goater 20 pen.

Att: 6,405

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).