Rotherham United

It was a positive start for the Millers who kept possession well against a much-changed Swans outfit, notorious of their ball retention an in fact much of the early pressure came from the visitors. Jordan Bowery forcing a corner from Dwight Tiendalli and which they struggled to clear, with Wood and Broadfoot both coming within inches of getting a clear sight of goal. 

The first real shot in anger came from Michael Tidser on his second start in this competition as he lurked around the edge of the box waiting to pounce on anything cleared from Pringle’s long searching free-kick, and eventually getting his chance but being unable to keep his half-volley inside the far post. 

As expected the home side came back into it, and Tiendalli’s cross was cleared only as far as Nathan Dyer on the edge of the box but he found Wales’ own Craig Morgan in the way of his shot from the edge of the box, whilst World Cup star Jefferson Montero had some success down the left before playing in Josh Sheehan, only for the youngster to be denied well by Scott Loach. 

The breakthrough eventually came 22 minutes in when a quick free-kick was moved well down the right before being squared to French international Bafetimbi Gomis who spun and rolled into the bottom corner beyond the despairing Loach. 

Within minutes the Millers almost hit back but Revell headed over Pringle’s corner, and Frecklington couldn’t keep his shot down when the ball bounced down 12 yards from goal after Arnason’s lengthy throw. 

There was little action of note in the final 15 minutes of the first period barring £8million man Federico Fernandez glancing a header over and Richard Wood landing a header off the crossbar only to be penalised for a foul on Kyle Bartley. 

Half-time

Swansea City 1 – 0 The Millers

Jonjo Shelvey was introduced for the home side at the break as a sign of the pressure they’d come under in the first-half and immediately it was the visitors who looked like notching. Revell was fed by a delightful Arnason through ball only for former Rangers man Bartley to protect the lead with a last ditch tackle. 

The Icelandic international continued to provide and minutes later his long throw found Frecklington whose shot was blocked before Pringle looped over the crossbar, and as they kept piling the pressure on, Bowery pulled Morgan’s excellent diagonal ball out of the air before forcing a save from Tremmel. 

Richard Brindley was introduced in place of Broadfoot and after Wood headed a Pringle free-kick over, it was substitute Shelvey who took aim and tested Loach from distance. 

Mat Sadler on debut had to be replaced following a clash of heads and his deputy Skarz was on hand to make an excellent interception although he could do little about two Wilfried Bony shots that were fired high over the bar after some excellent build-up play.

The final real chance for Rotherham to equalise was perhaps the best of them all as a loose ball was pounced upon by Conor Newton but the youngster blazed over the bar as injury-time approached. 

Full-Time

Swansea City 1 - 0 Millers

Swansea: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Fernandez, Bartley, Richards, Dyer, Carroll, Fulton (Shelvey HT), Sheehan (Sigurdsson 69), Montero, Gomis (Bony 73).

Subs not used: Fabianski, Amat, Taylor, Ki.

Rotherham: Loach; Broadfoot (Brindley 54), Morgan, Wood, Sadler (Skarz 71), Bowery, Arnason, Tidser (Newton 58), Frecklington, Pringle, Revell.

Subs not used: Collin, Brandy, Swift, Derbyshire.