Rotherham United 1 MK Dons 4: We will learn from this, says Evans

First half goals from Rob Hall, Jordan Spence and Dean Bowditch handed them the perfect start before Carl Baker rounded off the win with 15 minutes to play.

Millers manager Steve Evans said: “I’m not coming out to make excuses. We’ll take it bang in the face and get on with our football.

“There has been no shouting and bawling in the dressing room. It’s just been a lesson learned.”

The Dons took a fifth minute lead when Bowditch was allowed to get down the left hand side and put in a cross that Rotherham’s debutant goalkeeper Kelle Roos could only palm out for Hall to tap in.

The home side were quick to respond with Matt Derbyshire powering a header in from Chris Maguire’s corner on 13 minutes to level up the scores.

MK Dons then had a chance on the breakaway but Ben Reeves hit his shot straight at Roos.

Rotherham then missed two good chances to take the lead.

First, Derbyshire broke the offside trap before his shot was turned on to the crossbar by David Martin. Following up, Aidy White inexcusably prodded the ball wide of the empty net in an early contender for miss of the season.

Moments later, Derbyshire was denied by Martin when he again slipped by the Dons’ rearguard and was one-on-one.

They were to regret those misses when the Dons forged back ahead on 28 minutes.

Roos was deceived by Spence’s deflected cross from the right, which appeared to strike Danny Collins before sneaking inside the near post.

It got even worse for the Millers before the break with the visitors making it 3-1 on 35 minutes.

Rotherham skipper Greg Halford misjudged a pass to team-mate Tom Thorpe which allowed Reeves to burst through and pick out Bowditch to fire in at the near post.

One of Rotherham’s eight debutants Joe Newell almost got them back into it before half-time with a free-kick that had to be punched away by Martin.

Both White and Grant Ward were replaced at the break with Paul Green and Lee Frecklington coming on for Rotherham.

Their play improved slightly with Newell shooting from the edge of the box and Green heading over Frecklington’s centre.

The away side nearly added to their lead when Hall picked out Dean Lewington from the left hand side. The defender lifted his shot just over the bar.

Thorpe then headed tamely at goal when in a good position before the visitors sealed the points in the 75th minute.

Substitute Baker turned left-back Newell inside out before powering an effort beyond Roos in front of the travelling support.

It needed a strong block from Thorpe to deny Reeves making it five in the closing stages.