Rotherham United 1 Leicester City 4: Schlupp shows his potential as Millers flounder

Teenager Jeffrey Schlupp, making his debut for Leicester City, bagged a hat-trick to send plucky Rotherham United out of the Carling Cup.

Although born in Hamburg, Schlupp went to school in England and is still eligible to play for his adopted country despite appearances for the German Under-19s.

Former England manager Eriksson, now in his second season in charge at Leicester, could have a real star on his hands.

Eriksson sat in the dug-outs at the unused side of the Don Valley Stadium and the Millers briefly threatened to spoil his night when taking an early lead thanks to Matt Mills’s own goal.

But Paul Gallagher levelled the scores before half-time and Schlupp stole the show with three goals in the second half.

“Sven Goran’s shed is bigger than this,” sang the Leicester supporters early on, in a mocking reference to the size of the stadium. Unlikely as that is, the message was still understood. The Millers, of course, have heard it all before – but can at least say they have entered the final season of their tenancy.

Twelve months from now, they will be back in Rotherham playing at a new 12,000 capacity stadium.

Gone will be the running track that creates such an unwelcome gap between spectators and the field. Back will come something resembling an atmosphere on matchdays.

For the first 12 minutes of last night’s game, the Millers had every reason to feel embarrassed.

Not only were the away supporters laughing at the stadium, but the Leicester players were also in complete control on the pitch.

However, the mocking chants had become a stunned silence in the 13th minute when Mills turned the ball into his own net.

Mills, whose summer transfer from Reading netted his former club Doncaster Rovers a £600,000 windfall, could hardly be castigated for the slip.

Running towards his own goal, he was caught out by a dangerous low cross whipped into the box by Millers striker Adam Le Fondre. The ball struck his shins and sped past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

From there on, the Millers enjoyed their best period of the game. Eriksson’s men appeared shell-shocked and were under the pressure of a rising tide for a good 15 to 20 minutes.

Only a brilliant near-post save by Schmeichel prevented Ryan Cresswell adding a second with a bullet header from a corner.

However, 10 minutes before the break, Leicester striker Gallagher restored parity with a flick header beyond goalkeeper Andy Warrington.

Gallagher was involved again soon after when tumbling to the deck as he tried to get to the ball before Michael Raynes but referee Steve Rushton was in a good position to rule that Raynes had made no contact.

Eriksson’s side were a vastly different one to that which had opened the league season with a 1-0 away victory at Coventry City.

Only three players – Schmeichel, Mills and Paul Konchesky – remained but those coming in included summer signing Michael Johnson and one-time England defender Michael Ball, who had signed a one-year deal with the club on Monday.

The Millers were without on- loan goalkeeper Conrad Logan, ineligible against his parent club, and defender Troy Brown, who was away on Welsh Under-21 duty.

Defender Dale Tonge and striker Chris Holroyd dropped to the bench. Veteran goalkeeper Warrington replaced Logan, while Marcus Marshall and new signing Michael Raynes came into defence. Ben Pringle replaced Holroyd.

The Millers, under new manager Andy Scott, looked better organised than at times last season. Former Huddersfield player Danny Schofield was played just behind the strikers with Harrison, Taylor, and Pringle across the centre of midfield.

Striker Le Fondre worked hard to get in the action and was again being watched by scouts from various clubs, including Sheffield Wednesday. Scott replaced Grabban and Marshall with Holroyd and Tonge at the interval, no doubt sensing that the game was there to be won.

Taylor shot wide as the Millers made a positive start to the second half and although Leicester boasted players with bigger reputations, it was counting for nothing and the Millers matched their work rate and fought for every ball.

Le Fondre fluffed his best opportunity of the game shortly before Leicester took the lead – shooting into the ground after a poor header by Konchesky.

It proved the turning point as Schlupp, still only 18, advanced into the Millers’ area before turning a low shot wide of Warrington and inside the far post.

Once behind, the confidence drained from the Millers and it was only a matter of time before Leicester scored again. Schlupp duly obliged when heading home Gallagher’s cross. The pacy youngster bagged his hat-trick in the 71st minute, picking up the pieces after Warrington allowed a shot to spill from his grasp.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Marshall (Tonge 45), Raynes, Cresswell, Newey; Harrison, Taylor, Schofield, Pringle (Evans 65); Le Fondre, Grabban (Holroyd 45). Unused substitutes: Bradley, Foster, Banks,.

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Oakley, Mills, Ball, Konchesky (Nugent 76); Johnson (Danns 72); Dyer, Gallagher, Moussa (Fernandes 72); Waghorn, Schlupp. Unused substitutes: Berner, Wellens, Weale.

Referee: S Rushton (Staffordshire).