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Nick Blackman's opening goal for Reading was his 11th of the season in all competitions

Reading slipped to third place in the Championship after a draw at Rotherham.

Nick Blackman opened the scoring with a spectacular strike as he chested down a long ball and blasted it into the top corner from 25 yards out.

The Millers reacted soon after half-time as captain Danny Collins volleyed home a corner after being left unmarked at the far corner of the six-yard box.

Tom Thorpe could have won it for Rotherham, but his 75th-minute effort from close range was well saved.

The point did little to alleviate the home side's struggles at the foot of the table as they stay second from bottom, two points from safety.

Tony Andreu and Matt Derbyshire had decent early chances for Rotherham before Blackman opened the scoring.

The highly rated striker excellently took Oliver Norwood's ball into his stride and thundered a shot into the top left corner for his 10th goal in as many games.

The Millers' Jonson Clarke-Harris had a shot which just went wide of Ali Al-Habsi's post shortly before half-time as Rotherham tried to find an equaliser.

But it was not long before they did find a breakthrough as Collins was left alone at the far post to strike a corner into the ground and over Al-Habsi.

The Oman international - one of 11 different nationalities to feature for the Royals - made a great save from Clarke-Harris four minutes later as Rotherham's confidence improved, before making another excellent stop from Thorpe after a scramble in front of the Reading goal.

Reading substitute Matej Vydra had a couple of chances near the end but the Watford loanee could not find his first goal of the season.

Rotherham manager Neil Redfearn:

"They are the best side in this division, I have to say, I have seen a lot of the Championship before I got this job.

"They have got balance, pace and athleticism. I thought for us to produce the sort of performance we did was good.

"Second half they knew they were in the game and if we came away with nothing I thought it would have been a travesty."

Reading manager Steve Clarke:

"I thought we had decent control in the first half, the second goal in the game was going to be crucial and obviously it went to Rotherham.

"Credit to Rotherham I thought they were excellent tonight, especially in the second half.

"We have had a good run of wins, that keeps the unbeaten run going, it's tough to go anywhere in the Championship. There's no gimmes and this game proved it, we're happy to take the point."

Nick Blackman chested down Oliver Norwood's ball from deep in his own half and blasted it past Lee Camp....

... and was mobbed by his team-mates

But Danny Collins levelled for the Millers soon after half time