The Millers had already disposed of Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday in this season's Carling Cup – and they made light work of the struggling Saints on this occasion.

Southampton were outplayed at the Don Valley Stadium and could have gone down to an even heavier defeat than the one dealt to them by goals from Nick Fenton, Danny Harrison and Drewe Broughton. Stern John grabbed a consolation goal.

A 4-3-3 formation signaled Robins's intent for his side to attack their higher league opponents and it was the hosts who had the first chance of the match after 10 minutes when Ian Sharps's volley went just wide of the post.

After 23 minutes, the Millers were ahead through Fenton's header. Rotherham continued to cause Southampton problems and made their dominance count 10 minutes after the break when Danny Harrison showed a real touch of class to send a sublime curling 30-yard shot past Bartosz Bialkowski.

Substitute John breathed life back into the tie five minutes later with a well-struck shot of his own which sailed into the top corner from well outside the penalty area.

It was from another incisive counter attack from which Rotherham added a third goal in the 68th minute.

Reuben Reid, who had scored the decisive penalty in the previous round against Wolves, embarked on an impressive run past several Saints defenders before sliding the ball across to Broughton, who tapped into an empty net.

Rotherham United: Warrington, Tonge, Nicholas, Sharps, Fenton, Danny Harrison, Mills, Cummins, Rhodes, Reid, Broughton. Unused substitutes: Cann, Hudson, Burchill, Garcia, Green, Yates, Joseph. Southampton: Bialkowski, Svensson, Perry (Pekhart 77), Cork, Mills (John 55), James, Surman, Wotton, Wright-Phillips (Dyer 63), Lallana, McGoldrick. Unused substitutes: Forecast, Paterson, Hatch, Thomson.

Referee: Rob Shoebridge (Derbyshire)