Rotherham United exited the Carling Cup at the first round stage after a 4-1 defeat at Peterborough United.

Despite a spirited showing from the Millers which saw them take the lead through Marcus Marshall, goals from Ryan Bennett, George Boyd, Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith ensured the side from League One a spot in round two.

Ronnie Moore was forced into several changes after Saturday's win against Lincoln. Dean Holden and Exodus Geohaghan were ineligible under the terms of their loan agreements, whilst Tom Elliott was left out as a precaution following a knock to his knee.

The home side got off to a good start and penned the Millers into their own half for the opening 10 minutes. The first chance came on six minutes when Jason Taylor gave the ball away to McLean but his shot deflected wide.

Despite the home side's early pressure it was the Millers who took the lead on nine minutes. A throw-in by Stephen Brogan wasn't cut out by the Posh defence leaving Marcus Marshall the opportunity to shoot from a tight angle through the legs of Joe Lewis and into the back of the net.

This sparked a spell of composed play by the Millers who looked good going forward and solid in defence.

The home side did look a threat at set plays with Bennett heading wide from a Boyd corner on 16 minutes.

On 31 minutes Peterborough should have been level. A superb through ball by McLean split the Millers defence and Mackail-Smith ran clear, only to be denied by a superb save by Andy Warrington's legs.

The Millers' luck at set-plays ran out on 34 minutes. Boyd's centre was met firmly by Bennett who powered his header home despite a valiant attempt to clear from the line by Brogan.

This spurred the home team into life and they were soon peppering the Millers goal. Six minutes before the break it was 2-1 to the Posh. A short corner found Boyd in space and after moving the ball into a shooting position he drilled his shot past Warrington from 20 yards out.

Half time

Peterborough United 2 v 1 Rotherham United

The home side picked up where they left off after half time with Boyd going close on 49 minutes with a shot just wide of Warrington's post.

Just before the hour mark McLean also went close when his turn and shot in the area was saved by Warrington.

Warrington rescued the Millers again when he made a wonderful save from Nathaniel Mendez-Liang when the young winger was through on goal.

On the hour mark McLean made the game safe when Mark Little broke with pace down the right before squaring the ball to the striker who was left with a simple tap-in.

The Millers kept pressing and came close to a way back into the match when Adam Le Fondre tried his luck with a curling effort from a tight angle, but his shot was narrowly wide.

Posh added a fourth in the closing stages when Mackail-Smith turned in another low centre from sub Lee Tomlin to cap a good night for the home side.

Full time

Peterborough United 4 v 1 Rotherham United

Peterborough United: Lewis; Little, Langmead c, Bennett, Ofori-Twumasi (Rowe 66), Mendez-Laing (Hibbert 66), Lee, Weslowski, Boyd, Mackail-Smith, McLean (Tomlin 72).

Subs not used: Davies, Collis, Koranteng, Piergianni.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Brogan, Cresswell c, Ashworth, Newey, Law, J. Taylor (Warne 77), Harrison, Ellison, Marshall, Le Fondre.

Subs not used: Green, Banks, Darley, Annerson.

Att: 4,145 (225)