READING FC lost ground on Championship leaders Brighton after they were held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Rotherham United.

A spectacular long-range strike from in-form Nick Blackman put Royals ahead at the break and seemingly on their way to a seventh win in eight league games.

But new Millers boss Neil Fedfearn could not have wished for a better response from his players in his first home match in charge as a Danny Collins volley three minutes after the restart earned his side a draw.

Nevertheless, this will feel like two points dropped for Royals boss Steve Carke whose side slip to third in the table, six point behind Brighton who came from behind to beat Bristol City 2-1.

Clarke made three changes to the side which edged out Charlton Athletic 1-0 at Madejski Stadium on Saturday thanks to Nick Blackman's winner.

Andrew Taylor started at left-back in place of Jordan Obita, Garath McCleary came in for Ola John on the wing and Danny Williams replaced Aaron Tshibola in the middle.

Clarke is likely to have rested Obita during a three-game week with McCleary probably preferred to John.

Williams, meanwhile, clocked up thousands of air miles with USA during the international break which prevented him starting against the Addicks.

Reading were favourites to win before kick off in a clash between second versus second-from-bottom in the Championship.

But Clarke will have been wary of the Millers' threat in Redfearn's first home game since replacing new Leeds United boss Steve Evans.

The hosts, at their plush New York Stadium, were also looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday.

But they were forced onto the back foot in the first minute by a McCleary run and shot which stung Lee Camp's hands.

Yet Redfearn's men responded and Ali Al Habsi denied Tony Andreu before Royals' keeper kept out a 25-yard Matt Derbyshire rocket at full stretch.

Then Blackman produced a moment of individual brilliance with a special strike in the 26th minute.

The in-form marksman took a 50-yard Oliver Norwood pass on his chest at full tilt before thumping a ferocious 25-yard effort past a helpless Camp.

It was goal number 11 for the season and arguably Blackman's best.

If he continues scoring at this rate Reading must tie him down on a new contact before the January transfer window opens, with his current deal due to expire in June.

However, Millers might have levelled three minutes later when Paul Green's header from a good position flew wide from Grant Ward's cross.

Back came Reading, this time Blackman with a clever pass to set up Lucan Piazon whose shot was turned away before Michael Hector's header from the resulting corner missed the target.

As half-time approached, Jonson Clarke-Harris shaved the outside of Al Habsi's post at the other end, though the Oman keeper had it covered.

Yet Royals failed to heed the warning as Millers equalised three minutes after the break when a corner from the left reached Collins, whose expert volley flashed past Al Habsi.

After Blackman headed straight at Camp in the Rotherham goal, Al Habsi pulled off a stunning stop to deny Clarke-Harris, who looked favourite to score and put Millers in front.

Clarke sent on fresh legs just after the hour mark with fit-again Matej Vydra and Paolo Hurtado replacing McCleary and Piazon.

And, as the tackles flew in and the yellow cards were flashed, Royals relied on another fine Al Habsi save from Farrend Rawson after a poorly defended corner.

Vydra's drive lacked power on 83 minutes as Royals responded, then the lively forward's pass was too weak as he tried to find Blackman who was through on goal.

Vydra, though, kept going only to smack another shot narrowly over the bar with the clock ticking down, and Reading's hopes of victory went with it.

Royals travel to Fulham this Saturday (1.30pm ko) then face a crunch home fixture against Brighton a week later.