Reading have now won 16 of their 33 Championship games this season
Reading bounced back from a two-game losing run as they held on to consign Championship strugglers Rotherham United to a fifth straight defeat.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Michael Morrison poked home from close range as the Millers failed to clear.
United fought back after the break and almost levelled after a succession of passes before Reading cleared Ryan Giles' dangerous delivery.
The hosts kept the pressure on late into the game and were almost rewarded when Lewis Wing's long-range drive flew over the bar, but the Royals held on.
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The result continues a poor run of form for Rotherham, who had began the month in decent shape, winning four games out of six and moving up to 20th in the table after their victory at Preston on 6 February.
Since then, however, the Millers have lost every game they have played, with defeat to ensuring they remained in the relegation zone in 22nd, five points from safety after Birmingham's win over QPR.
The result also represented a turnaround for the Royals who kept pace with their play-off-chasing rivals as they moved up to fifth in the table.
The visitors started the game well as Morrison was given two opportunities to find the opener after his header from Omar Richards' cross had been initially dealt with by Millers keeper Viktor Johansson.
From there, Rotherham struggled to gain parity in a match they needed to win to boost their hopes of survival, with Wing's late strike the closest they came to a leveller.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsRotherham
Formation 3-5-2
1Johansson19Harding21MacDonald15Robertson22Olosunde5Wing4MacDonald25Crooks30Giles10Ladapo24Smith
- 1Johansson19Harding21MacDonaldBooked at 64mins15RobertsonSubstituted forWilesat 15'minutesBooked at 85mins22OlosundeBooked at 90mins5WingSubstituted forHirstat 80'minutes4MacDonaldSubstituted forClarkeat 66'minutes25Crooks30GilesSubstituted forSadlierat 66'minutes10LadapoSubstituted forJozefzoonat 81'minutes24Smith
Substitutes
- 8Wiles9Hirst17Sadlier18Clarke26Barlaser27Blackman28Jozefzoon
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
33Cabral Barbosa17Yiadom4Morrison6Moore3Richards30Semedo28Laurent8Rinomhota7Olise14Ejaria18Lucas João
- 33Cabral Barbosa17Yiadom4Morrison6Moore3Richards30Semedo28Laurent8RinomhotaSubstituted forPontes Estevesat 87'minutes7OliseSubstituted forHolmesat 90+4'minutes14EjariaSubstituted forMcIntyreat 76'minutes18Lucas João
Substitutes
- 2Pontes Esteves5McIntyre9Baldock22Southwood24Aluko29Holmes34Tetek47Puscas50Camara
Referee:David CooteMatch StatsHome TeamRotherhamAway TeamReadingPossessionHome50%Away50%ShotsHome17Away11Shots on TargetHome1Away4CornersHome10Away8FoulsHome15Away8Live TextPost update
Match ends, Rotherham United 0, Reading 1.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Rotherham United 0, Reading 1.
90'+4'Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Michael Morrison.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Wiles (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Smith.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt blocked. Trevor Clarke (Rotherham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Sadlier with a cross.
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Thomas Holmes replaces Michael Olise.
90'+3'Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Tom McIntyre.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt blocked. George Hirst (Rotherham United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Michael Smith.
90'+2'Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Josh Laurent.
90'Booking
Matthew Olosunde (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'Post update
Tom McIntyre (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'Post update
Foul by Matthew Olosunde (Rotherham United).
89'Post update
Attempt saved. Trevor Clarke (Rotherham United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Crooks.
88'Post update
Attempt saved. Michael Olise (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Tomás Esteves replaces Andy Rinomhota because of an injury.
85'Booking
Ben Wiles (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85'Post update
Michael Olise (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
85'Post update
Foul by Ben Wiles (Rotherham United).
84'Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Josh Laurent.
83'Post update
Lucas João (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Source: bbc.com