Reading manager Paul Clement praised the fine display of stand-in goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola in the 3-1 Championship win over Millwall.

Reading, who had lost five of their previous six home league matches this season, went ahead when Yakou Meite nodded home in the 28th minute.

Murray Wallace levelled for Millwall six minutes later but Sam Baldock restored Reading’s lead with a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Despite sustained pressure from the visitors, Reading secured the win with another header from Meite four minutes from time.

With regular keepers Vito Mannone and Sam Walker out injured, Jaakkola played his first match of the season.

Clement said: “Anssi played very well. Actually, he was immense. He’s not really the number three goalkeeper. We have three first-team keepers in addition to the younger ones.

“Jaakkola is one of those three, Mannone and Walker are the other two. But Anssi’s played really well.

“It was fantastic professionalism from him. He’s been training hard every day and it’s difficult when you’re not getting any opportunities.

“To come in and produce that level of performance shows how professional he is.

“At the other end of the team, we also had a fantastic performance from Meite. I think it would be close between those two [for best Reading player].

“We rode our luck a bit at times today but, at other times, we were really there. We stood up to be counted in difficult moments.

“We really had to be competitive and aggressive. I thought the spirit of the team was excellent.

“I was very happy with the result, especially in the context of our [poor] season and our home form.

“It’s good to get off to a good start in this block of games.

“We got over the line with a victory. There’s been other games this season when we’ve been on the end of some fine margins.

“There were some fine margins today, for sure. You expect that in virtually every game we’ve played.

“The penalty came at a good time for us. You then know that you’ve got some things to build on at half- time.”

Millwall manager Neil Harris rued his side’s ill fortune after creating numerous openings.

He said: “Why did we lose the game? Ultimately, because we didn’t take more than one of the 24 chances that we created.

“You’re probably looking at 14 clear-cut chances and I’d as far as say six sitters.

“We’ve only scored one of them and yet, from the four times that Reading have got the ball in our box, three times it’s gone in the goal. That’s not acceptable.”

Harris did not agree with the penalty decision of referee David Webb, when Mahlon Romeo brought down Tyler Blackett.

“I think the referee has got it wrong,” Harris said. “I’ve seen it from two different angles and it’s just wrong.

“All I’ll say is that does Mahlon need to make the tackle to put himself in that situation? That’s the debate.

“I couldn’t go to see the referee this time because you try not to lose your temper. They are good men and they make decisions.

“There was no point in going to see the referee. He’s made a split-second decision and if he’s got it wrong, well … “