Rotherham United 5 Port Vale 0: Biggest win in over a decade as Millers put rivals in the shade

It was also their biggest win for 11 years and they will care little that it came against a side who played with 10 men for an hour after goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson was sent off for a professional foul on Marcus Marshall.

"We were already 2-0 up by then but the important thing was not letting the 10 men get back into it," said Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore.

"Some of the football was excellent and there were some outstanding goals.

"What we have to do now is go on from here," added Moore, whose side go to Macclesfield this afternoon probably without rightback Danny Coid, who went off at half-time with an ankle injury.

Rotherham had already seen a 'goal' ruled out by the time Nicky Law fired home only his second goal of the season to put them in front after 11 minutes.

They quickly followed this with a second goal from a marvellous header by Ryan Taylor after a flowing move.

The dismissal of goalkeeper Tomlinson came just past the half hour after he charged outside his area and flattened Marshall.

Any hopes of a fightback from Vale, under the caretaker charge of Geoff Horsfield after Micky Adams's departure to Sheffield United, were extinguished in the opening minute of the second half when Will Atkinson scored his first goal for Rotherham on his second appearance on loan from Hull.

Ryan Taylor's stunning volley brought the fourth goal and the rout was rounded off with a quality 25-yarder from Mark Randall, the midfielder on loan from Arsenal and making his first appearance since breaking his collar bone on his debut at the end of October.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Coid (Ashworth 46), Mullins, Fenton, Newey; Marshall, Law (Randall 64), J Taylor, Atkinson; Le Fondre (Pope 73), R Taylor. Unused substitutes: Harrison, Ellison, Warne, Annerson.

Port Vale: Tomlinson; Yates, McCombe (K Taylor 54), Owen, Collins; Roberts; Dodds, Griffiths, Loft (Rigg 81); M Richards, J Richards (Martin 32). Unused substitutes: R Taylor, Haldane, Fraser, Sutton.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Ryan Taylor.