York City 0 Rotherham United 3: Millers secure trouble-free progress at York’s expense

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy may not register on the club’s list of priorities even after they nudged a step closer to a Wembley final.

But in terms of maintaining the momentum built during a run of just two defeats in 14 games to start the season, this was very much a trouble-free and positive workout.

The scoreline may have flattered them, given York’s enthusiasm and the fact that they led through an own goal at half-time having never once troubled the home side’s goalkeeper, Michael Ingham.

But they stepped up a gear in the second half, and two goals inside five minutes settled the tie.

First Kieran Agard won and converted a penalty before Alex Revell scored a powerful header to cap what as always with the rangy striker, was a tireless shift leading the line.

For York, the defeat continues a growing trend in home Cup ties against teams from a higher league.

A year ago this week they were outclassed in a 4-0 defeat by Coventry in the same competition, and in the first week of this campaign they lost by the same scoreline at the hands of Championship high-fliersBurnley in the Capital One Cup.

There was no shame in defeat for Nigel Worthington’s men, especially as York’s was a committed performance, and the result should not detract from their mini-revival in League Two which has yielded seven points from nine and a climb out of the relegation zone.

Worthington named a relatively strong team, while opposite number Steve Evans gave five fringe players the chance to impress.

Despite the changes and the dearth of chances in the opening quarter it was a committed start by both teams.

Rotherham were fortunate that captain Craig Morgan was only shown a yellow card in the 10th minute for wrestling Wes Fletcher to the ground as the striker chased a through ball, referee Mark Haywood spotting the two covering defenders that likely saved Morgan from an early bath.

The two protagonists tussled again moments later, Morgan coming off best when he blocked Fletcher’s goalbound shot from the edge of the area.

Rotherham actually broke the deadlock with their first real attack.

Joe Skarz chased a clearance down the left and hooked his foot around the ball as Luke O’Neill tried to shepherd it out. Chris Smith, stood on the corner of the six-yard box and inadvertently headed it past Ingham and into the net.

York had been neat and tidy up until the goal but were shaken by the setback and began pumping the ball long into the channels, a ploy that initially reaped little reward.

But as Rotherham continued to run into cul-de-sacs trying to break down their two banks of four, York began to prosper by spreading the play across the park, with the running of Ashley Chambers, Ryan Jarvis and Fletcher asking questions of the Millers defence.

Elliot Whitehouse had a golden chance to level on 32 minutes when, after winning the ball in midfield and racing forward, he steered a header from O’Neill’s pinpoint cross wide of Adam Collin’s goal.

Collin was beaten five minutes before the break, only for Pablo Mills to come to his rescue, the defender heading Jarvis’s header off the line after Chambers had stood up a cross to the far post following a crossfield ball from Fletcher that stretched the Millers.

Fletcher had the ball in the net minutes later only for an offside flag to deny him.

Just as Morgan was fortunate in the first half, so last man Daniel Parslow was lucky at the start of the second when he tripped Revell. This time, the acute angle might have prevented referee Haywood from reaching into his top pocket.

Chambers headed straight at Collin when he met a deep free-kick at the back post before Danny Hylton – one of the five players given a chance to impress by Evans – whipped a curling shot inches wide of the post.

Shortly after the hour, Rotherham doubled their advantage from the penalty spot when Agard scored from the penalty spot after he was bundled over by Lewis Montrose.

Revell then sealed it when he climbed above Parslow to head home Richard Brindley’s cross.

York City: Ingham, O’Neill, Smith, Parslow, Davies; Platt (Murray 73), Whitehouse, Montrose, Chambers (Bowman 67); Jarvis, Fletcher (Cresswell 67). Unused substitutes: Clay, Allan.

Rotherham United: Collin, Brindley, Mills, Morgan (Rowe 86), Skarz; Agard (Bradley 89), Frecklington, Tidser, Hylton, Pringle (Milsom 90); Revell. Unused substitutes: Shearer, O’Connor.

Referee: M Haywood (Lancashire).