3 mins Edmundsson shot 1-0

10 mins Ferguson shot 2-0

Half time: Magpies 2 Millers 0

Full time: Magpies 2 Millers 0

Coach Alan Thompson said:

"They're talented footballers with great ability and it's for me and the other coaches is to try and bring the other side to their game. It's not just about attack, attack, attack. They have to be switched on and aware defensively. There's no doubt they've got talent when they're going forward, but they have to be switched on when they're defending. I asked them to be positive in what they did, whether it be defending or attacking.

"It was a difficult one (for Edmunsson). He had his back to goal, and he had to get his left foot round it. He's come over from the Faroe Islands, and he's done well. He's a talented boy, and one for the future.

"And on a difficult pitch Shane's managed to hit it first time across the keeper. When the pitch is that lively it's not an easy thing to do, because sometimes you can make yourself look a bit daft. Technically, he's sound and sweet."

Not even a floodlight failure leaving half of the Whitley Park pitch in gathering gloom of twilight for the final 15 minutes prevented The Magpies from avenging their away loss to The Millers earlier in the season.

After taking an early lead against Huddersfield Town last week, Alan Thompson's side were again quick to seize the initiative and opened the scoring after just three minutes. Faroe Islands youngster Joan Edmundsson notched his first Newcastle goal at this level, neatly turning home a Shane Ferguson corner at the near post.

And by the ten minute mark the home side had doubled their advantage through Derry-born Ferguson, who shot past Jamie Annerson in the visitors goal for his own debut reserve team strike.

Further goals looked inevitable with both Haris Vuckic and Wesley Ngo Baheng coming close, but at the other end Jack Alnwick made a smart stop as Rotherham briefly threatened a comeback.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Baheng placing his lob on to the crossbar and Vuckic shooting home late on, only to be wrongly denied his goal by a dubious offside flag.

Newcastle gave a runout to Tamas Kadar and the Hungarian defender ended the game in possession of the captain's armband, after Ryan Donaldson took a kick and had to be substituted. 

Biffa

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