(AET: 0-0. Rotherham win 4-3 on penalties)
ROTHERHAM United pulled off a second consecutive penalty shoot-out victory over a Championship club last night to progress to the third round of the Carling Cup for the first time in five years.
The Millers, who nearly went out of business in the summer, are now enjoying a major revival and have won five games out of five so far this season including a first round triumph over Sheffield Wednesday.
Striker Reuben Reid hit the decisive pena
lty to condemn Wolves to defeat last night after goalkeeper Andy Warrington produced a flying save to deny substitute Stephen Elliott.
The shoot-out started badly for the Millers when captain Pablo Mills failed from the spot but Kevin Foley then missed the next kick for Wolves.
David Jones, Chris Iwelumo, and Karl Henry all found the target for Wolves, while Danny Harrison, Mark Hudson, and Mark Burchill hit the net before Reid.
The game had ended goalless after extra time but the Millers held their nerves the better as Wolves paid a price for making six changes to their side from the weekend.
Ironically, striker Reid had spurned the best opportunity to break the deadlock in normal time when, in the opening minutes, he failed to beat Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme after dispossessing defender Darren Ward on the edge of the penalty area.
Both sides had decent penalty shouts waved away by referee Neil Swarbrick; Wolves midfielder Karl Henry claiming a trip by Warrington, and Millers striker Drewe Broughton arguing that he was pushed in the back by Neil Collins when challenging for a cross.
Reid offered the Millers speed in the final third while Danny Harrison, operating in a midfield holding role, showed glimpses of real talent.
At the start of the second half, Wolves introduced striker Iwelumo as a replacement for the ineffective Andy Keogh.
The Millers came under increasing pressure and goalkeeper Warrington produced a flying save to keep out an angled volley from the dangerous Stephen Ward.
Winger Michael Gray, who had been switched to the right flank after starting on the left, then shot inches wide of the right hand post as Wolves pushed for the breakthrough.
The Millers, however, stayed strong and solid – rarely looking uncomfortable against a side from two divisions higher up the football league ladder.
If Mark Hudson had only been able to stretch a touch further to connect with a cross from Mark Lynch, the Millers might have gone ahead with 20 minutes left.
Goalkeeper Warrington was alert again in the final minute of normal time, coming off his line to save at the feet of Kightly.
Moments later, Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme nearly gifted the home side victory when a low cross slipped out of his arms but Broughton shot wide.
Extra-time passed with few goalscoring opportunities although Millers substitute Ryan Taylor made a hash of two half chances when inside the area.
Rotherham United: Warrington; Lynch, Sharps, Fenton, Nicholas; Harrison; Cummins (116), Hudson, Rhodes (Burchill 115); Reid, Broughton (Taylor 105). Unused substitutes: Cann, Tonge, Yates, Green.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ikeme; Foley, Stearman, D.Ward, Collins; Kightly, Edwards (Jones 100), Henry, Gray (Elliott 79); Keogh (Iwelumo 45), S.Ward. Unused substitutes: Jones, Davies, Potter, Hennessey.
Referee: ND Swarbrick (Lancashire).
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