Ex-Miller Pope raps four goals to live up to his pre-match billing

Millers’ manager Steve Evans, speaking in the run-up to the game, had outlined his high regard for Pope, who was Rotherham’s record signing but returned to the Potteries after an undistinguished spell.

Rotherham went behind after five minutes when David Noble was barged off the ball by Louis Dodds. He carried the ball into the visitors’ half where Pope and Jennison Myrie-Williams combined to set up Dodds who shot past Scott Shearer.

The Millers conceded again in the 16th minute when Vale’s quick counter attack saw Chris Shuker deliver a pin-point cross into the heart of the area for Pope to score with a firm header.

Shearer did well to block an effort from Myrie-Williams, but it delayed the third goal only by a couple of minutes with Vale making it 3-0 through Pope.

Rotherham were all over the place at the back as Ashley Vincent and Dodds made inroads before a short ball from the latter set up a close range finish for Pope.

Ben Pringle, playing just behind the strikers, had a 25-yard shot which Chris Neal held under the bar but it was a brief respite with the Millers conceding a fourth goal after 28 minutes.

Not for the first time this season, Rotherham were caught out on the break from one of their own corners. The ball was knocked out to Vincent near halfway and he ran clear before firing a shot inside Shearer’s near post.

The Millers looked a shambles at the back, but pulled a goal back on 31 minutes. A swift break of their own, initiated by GarethEvans and taken up by Kayode saw the latter find Pringle whose pass was calmly converted by Michael O’Connor.

Manager Evans decided he had to react and took off left-back Laurence Wilson and sent on Dale Tonge.

O’Connor blazed a volley over from 18 yards as Rotherham tried to get back into things.

At half-time Nicky Hunt, booked early on, was replaced by Craig Morgan. He went into central defence and Johnny Mullins moved to right-back.

When Rotherham were awarded a penalty, Daniel Nardiello converted to give the Millers genuine hope.

However, Vale got a fifth goal as Pope completed his hat-trick with a simple tap-in and with 12 minutes left Morgan’s header back to his goalkeeper fell short and Pope cashed in.

Port Vale: Neal, Duffy, McCombe, McDonald (Owen 80), Loft, Myrie-Williams (Taylor 82), Morsy, Shuker, Vincent (Williamson 88), Dodds, Pope. Unused substitutes: Johnson, Yates, Lloyd, Burge.

Rotherham United: Shearer, Hunt (Morgan 46), Sharps, Mullins, Wilson (Tonge 32), Noble, Pringle, O’Connor, Evans (Ainsworth 76), Odejayi, Nardiello. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Taylor, Revell, Agard.

Referee: M Russell (Hertfordshire).