Swansea 1 Rotherham 0: Resilient Millers see Cup dream ended in Swansea

Rotherham's Kari Arnason, right, is challenged by Swansea City's Bafetimbi Gomis, the home side's match-winner.

Swansea – winners of the competition two seasons ago – could never relax against a resilient Millers, but Garry Monk’s men were always in control after Gomis’s clinical first-half strike.

The decisive moment came after 22 minutes when Nathan Dyer found Gomis on the edge of the penalty area and the 12-times capped France striker turned smartly to hit a clinical finish low past goalkeeper Scott Loach.

Swansea handed debuts to new boys Federico Fernandez and Tom Carroll in a side showing 10 changes from the one which beat Burnley on Saturday to make it two wins out of two in the Premier League.

Only weekend scorer Dyer kept his place in Monk’s line-up as summer signings Gomis and Jefferson Montero made their first starts.

Dyer saw his shot blocked but Rotherham gave Swansea little hope of encouragement until Jazz Richards broke past Kirk Broadfoot and squared for Montero to test Loach, who blocked with his legs, although Swansea edged ahead two minutes later through Gomis.

Lee Frecklington might have pulled Rotherham level but he was unable to get on top of a bouncing ball in the Swansea box and the ball flew high over Gerhard Tremmel’s goal.

Swansea introduced Jonjo Shelvey at half-time but Rotherham started the second period well and Kyle Bartley had to back-pedal smartly to stop Alex Revell bearing down on goal.

Ben Pringle then volleyed over and Jordan Bowery forced Tremmel to get down low to his left. Swansea needed to raise their game and Shelvey stirred the home crowd after clever approach play from Richards and Montero down the left.

The ball was squared into Shelvey’s path 25 yards out and he rifled a powerful shot goalwards which Loach did well to parry.

Substitute Wilfried Bony could have twice wrapped up the tie, his first opportunity blocked by Craig Morgan and then firing over unmarked from 12 yards.

Swansea City: Tremmel, Tiendalli, Fernandez, Bartley, Richards, Dyer, Fulton (Shelvey 46), Carroll, Montero, Sheehan (Sigurdsson 59), Gomis (Bony 74). Unused substitutes: Fabianski, Amat, Taylor, Ki.

Rotherham United: Loach, Broadfoot (Brindley 55), Wood, Morgan, Arnason, Tidser (Newton 58), Frecklington, Pringle, Sadler (Skarz 71), Bowery, Revell. Unused substitutes: Collin, Brandy, Swift, Derbyshire.

Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).