A Rickie Lambert goal seperated the sides at the Don Valley Stadium tonight, where Rovers took on League Two side Rotherham United.

The striker smashed the ball home after 56 minutes to mgive Rovers a comfortable win.

Rotherham enjoyed some early possession, but seldom troubled goalkeeper Steve Phillips and the longer the game went on, the stronger Rovers became. They passed the ball well, looked comfortable in possession and defended in depth when they had to.

However victory came at a price as they lost striker Darryl Duffy after just six minutes with a hamstring strain

Rovers lost Darryl Duffy after just six minutes of the game, when he limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Sean Rigg.

Rotherham enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening stages and only a fine save from Steve Phillips denied Rueben Reid a goal with nine minutes gone.

The shot stopper got down low to beat away the strikers' close range effort and soon afterwards Rovers mounted their first real attack of the evening.

Following some neat footwork down the left, Jeff Hughes cut inside his marker and his cross was met by Rigg, who was partnering Lambert up front, but his shot was blocked by a home defender. The rebound fell to Craig Disley, but his effort was also blocked.

Chrisn LInes then curled a twenty yard free kick staright into the arms of goalkeeper Andy Warrington as Rovers began to assert themselves on the game.

A flowing move on 22 minutes almost produced a goal when Rickie Lambert found Rigg, who raced away from one defender but was forced out wide by Mark Lynch. However he was able to find Hughes who whipped a cross into the box but Disley headed just over.

Rigg was then foiled by Warrington, who did well to keep out his diving header at the far post.

The first chance of the second half fell to Rovers, but Watrrington saved comfortably from Rigg's long range effort.

However Rovers took the lead with 56 minutes gone when the ball reached Disley on the right of the area and he squared it to Lambert who smashed a first time shot into the corner of the net from six yards, giving Warrington no chance of saving.

Lines then hit an angled drive just wide of the post as Rovers seemed to step up a gear, and they almost added a second goal after 72 minutes when half time substitute Byron Anthony headed just over from Stuart Campbell's corner. 

Team: Steve Phillips, Ryan Green (David Pipe, 61), Danny Coles, Steve Elliott (Byron Athony,46), Aaron Lescott, Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Craig Disley, Jeff Hughes, Rickie Lambert, Darryl Duffy (Sean Rigg, 6)

Alex Rhodes headed wide for the home side, but Rovers were soon on the attack again and Andy Warrington made a fine save from Lambert, tipping the striker's ferocious 20 yard drive over the bar.

Aaron Lescott was next to try his luck and althiough Warrington saved, he couldn't hold the ball and spilt it as far as Rigg, who was following up. However his tame header was easily gathered by the keeper.

Mark Hudson fired over the bar with three minutes remaining, but Rovers were never in any real danger of surrendering their lead.

Substitutes: Mike Green, Tom Parrinello, Byron Anthony, Craig Hinton, David Pipe, James Fraser, Sean Rigg, Liam Harwood

Rotherham United: Andy Warrington, Mark Lynch (Andy Todd, 76), Ian Sharps, Mark Joseph, Jamie Green (Triallist, 76), Pablo Mills, Mark Hudson, Danny Harrison, Peter Holmes (Alex Rhodes, 67), Reuben Reid, (Ryan Taylor, 76), Mark Burchill

Reported by Keith Brookman