Two goals in six minutes at the start of the second half from Matt Derbyshire and Lee Frecklington was enough for Rotherham as they secured their Championship status for next season.

Oliver Norwood did give Reading hope with a late strike from distance but it would've been an undeserved point for Steve Clarke's men had they snatched a draw at the death.

It took the Royals 79 minutes to register their first shot on target as the hosts picked up an invaluable three points with relative ease.

Norwood's strike did end a run of nearly 500 minutes without a league goal for Reading but it won't mask the fact that this was another awful display from the Royals.

Mikkel Andersen was given a chance in front of Adam Federici in goal but failed to grasp his opportunity in an unconvincing performance – perhaps able to do better with both of the hosts' goals.

Steve Clarke made five other changes from the side that lost at home to Brentford on Saturday, with Stephen Kelly, Jake Cooper, Jem Karacan, Simon Cox and Pavel Pogrebnyak returning to the side.

The Royals lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Kelly, Michael Hector and Cooper in central defence, with Chris Gunter and Jordan Obita as wing-backs.

It was a tense, edgy affair in a first half devoid of many real opportunities as Rotherham's league woes seemingly played on their mind.

They had the better opportunities with Derbyshire a nuisance up top but he failed to hit the target despite getting into a shooting position on three occasions throughout the first half.

In a poor opening 20 minutes, the ballboy getting stretchered off after Danny Lafferty had collided with him summed up the contest.

Pavel Pogrebnyak fired against the side netting from a tight angle in the Royals' only chance of the half but there was a severe lack of attacking intent from both sides in a drab first half.

It did get better late on as Rotherham looked for a goal that would keep them in the division and they nearly got it in the 43rd minute when Andersen made a meal of a Frecklington drive.

Derbyshire chested the ball down to the Millers midfielder and he took aim with a fizzing effort from 25 yards and Andersen let it slip through his fist but luckily for Reading, it dropped wide and the half ended goalless.

Clarke would've been hoping his side were able to take advantage of Rotherham's nervousness in the second half but it wasn't to be as the hosts struck twice in the opening 13 minutes of the second period to all but seal victory.

Danny Ward scampered down the left hand side in the 52nd minute and his low cross was turned home at the near post by the ever-dangerous Derbyshire.

Andersen looked to have it covered but the Millers striker somehow beat him to it to squeeze it under the Reading 'keeper.

If Clarke was frustrated by that then he'd have been scratching his head eight minutes later as Rotherham doubled their lead with an almost identical goal.

Ward again raced down the left and his low cross was missed by Derbyshire and Andersen, allowing Frecklington to fire into an unguarded net to the delight of the home crowd.

Moments later and it could've been 3-0 but luckily for the Royals, Kirk Broadfoot somehow headed Richie Smallwood's free-kick wide from eight yards out.

It took Reading 79 minutes to register a shot on target as Norwood nearly caught Emi Martinez out from distance but he managed to divert it over.

Eight minutes later and he wasn't so lucky as Norwood again took aim from distance with a low effort from 25 yards that deceived the 'keeper and gave Reading hope.

It was a tense ending as the visitors launched plenty of high balls into the box but Rotherham held on and a pitch invasion followed as they celebrated their Championship safety.

Reading Andersen - Kelly, Hector, Cooper, Gunter - Karacan, Chalobah (Mackie '62), Norwood - Cox, Pogrebnyak, Obita (McCleary '62). Subs not used: Federici, McCleary, Pearce, Mackie, Blackman, Stacey, Appiah.

Rotherham Martinez - Lafferty, Arnason, Broadfoot (Wood '62), Frecklington, Pringle, Morgan, Ward, Derbyshire (Bowery '80), Hunt, Smallwood. Subs: Collin, Wood, Bowery, Green, Hammill, Wilson, Clarke-Harris.

Referee Graham Salisbury

Attendance 11,123 (210 Reading)