Match ends, Rotherham United 1, MK Dons 4.
RotherhamRotherham United1MK DonsMilton Keynes Dons4
MK Dons celebrated their first-ever game in the Championship in style with a 4-1 win over Rotherham United.
Rob Hall gave Karl Robinson's side a dream start as he scored from close range inside the first five minutes.
Matt Derbyshire equalised soon after, but the Dons were 3-1 up at the break after a deflected goal for Jordan Spence and one for Dean Bowditch.
Carl Baker completed the rout as his powerful second-half shot beat Kelle Roos at his near post.
The victory extended MK Dons' unbeaten run in the opening league fixture to seven seasons - they last lost their first league game in 2008 when they were beaten 2-0 at Leicester City.
| Championship debutants - how have the last six fared on opening day? | |
|---|---|
| 2015: MK Dons beat Rotherham United 4-1 | 2013: AFC Bournemouth beat Charlton 2-1 |
| 2013: Yeovil beat Millwall 1-0 | 2006: Colchester United lost 2-1 to Birmingham City |
| 2003: Wigan Athletic lost 2-0 to Millwall | 1997: Crewe Alexandra lost 2-0 to Swindon Town |
Hall tapped in from a yard out after Roos palmed out Bowditch's ball from the left.
But their lead only last seven minutes as Derbyshire headed in Chris Maguire's corner at the near post.
Derbyshire was in the thick of the action as he then went close with another header before having a shot parried onto the bar by David Martin, with Aidy White missing the rebound.
But the Dons then took command as Spence's cross took a deflection and wrong-footed Millers goalkeeper Kelle Roos before Bowditch turned in Ben Reeves' cross seven minutes later.
Paul Green and Tom Thorpe missed headers in the second half as Rotherham got back into it before Baker blasted his shot into the top corner after a great solo run.
Rotherham manager Steve Evans: "If you don't defend right and take chances at key stages of the match it's always going to be tough.
"There's no excuse. The defending wasn't good enough. I'm not coming out to make excuses. We'll take it bang in the face and get on with our football.
"There has been no shouting and bawling in the dressing room. It's just been a lesson learned."
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson: "We were really humbled by the players' performance today.
"To be at this level makes us very proud and we put an assured performance in. I don't think I could ask for anything more from the players.
"Internally we are very, very confident. To be tipped to go down and finish 24th is tremendous motivation for us. For the first day of the season it is excellent, but we cannot get carried away in August."
Line-ups
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Roos
- 15Halford
- 23Thorpe
- 4Collins
- 22Newell
- 7MaguireSubstituted forBoweryat 73'minutes
- 33SmallwoodBooked at 90mins
- 17WardSubstituted forFrecklingtonat 45'minutes
- 14WhiteSubstituted forGreenat 45'minutes
- 9Ward
- 27Derbyshire
Substitutes
- 2Buxton
- 8Frecklington
- 10Ledesma
- 11Green
- 16Richardson
- 18Bowery
- 21Collin
MK Dons
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Martin
- 12SpenceBooked at 31mins
- 5McFadzeanBooked at 43mins
- 6Kay
- 3Lewington
- 8Potter
- 14Carruthers
- 38HallSubstituted forBakerat 69'minutes
- 10ReevesBooked at 63mins
- 9BowditchSubstituted forPowellat 69'minutes
- 13GallagherSubstituted forChurchat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Hodson
- 7Baker
- 11Church
- 16Walsh
- 17Powell
- 18Aguza
- 22Cropper
- Referee:
- Nigel Miller
- Attendance:
- 9,869
Match Stats
Home TeamRotherhamAway TeamMK Dons
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home12
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rotherham United 1, MK Dons 4.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matt Derbyshire (Rotherham United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jordan Bowery with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Jordan Spence.
Post update
Offside, MK Dons. Samir Carruthers tries a through ball, but Simon Church is caught offside.
Booking
Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Offside, MK Dons. Carl Baker tries a through ball, but Simon Church is caught offside.
Post update
Offside, Rotherham United. Lee Frecklington tries a through ball, but Paul Green is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Greg Halford (Rotherham United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Joe Newell with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Jordan Spence.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Samir Carruthers (MK Dons) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Reeves (MK Dons) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Simon Church.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Kyle McFadzean.
Post update
Foul by Dean Lewington (MK Dons).
Post update
Greg Halford (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Simon Church replaces Sam Gallagher.
Goal!
Goal! Rotherham United 1, MK Dons 4. Carl Baker (MK Dons) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sam Gallagher.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Jordan Bowery replaces Chris Maguire.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Kyle McFadzean.
