Stoke produced a convincing display to cast Rotherham aside 2-0 and progress to the fifth round of the Carling Cup for the first time in 30 years.

Potters boss Tony Pulis rested most of his first-choice team, but still his side proved too strong for their League Two counterparts with goals from Glenn Whelan and Danny Pugh enough to send them through.

Pulis had retained just two of the starting line-up that drew 0-0 with Wigan on Saturday, with Ryan Shawcross and Seyi Olofinjana the only players to retain their place.

Rotherham do not exactly have Stoke's resources these days and were only able to leave out Omar Garcia with young striker Reuben Reid returning.

Stoke created the first opening of the match with Whelan, who orchestrated much of what was good about City, driving just over the crossbar from 20 yards.

Soon after Whelan curled a free kick into the box, but Shawcross somehow managed to miss from two yards out.

The wastefulness continued when Dave Kitson put Vincent Pericard clean through only for the Cameroon striker to volley wildly over.

But after 20 minutes Stoke were ahead. Alex Rhodes' high kick on Pugh resulted in a free kick that Whelan lifted over the wall and past Andy Warrington.

Rotherham went close to an equaliser with a Nick Fenton header on the far post that just cleared Steve Simonsen's crossbar.

But Stoke continued to press and after 32 minutes it took a flying save from the veteran Warrington to turn a fine effort from Richard Cresswell onto a post and behind.

Stoke went in search of a quick goal to settle the match after the break and it almost arrived when Pericard saw a low drive flash inches wide of the far post.

Rotherham continued to show signs of life and after 52 minutes only a flying save from Simonsen stopped a fine hook from Reid as his effort curled towards the far post.

Then Drewe Broughton fired over after being set-up by a clever turn and pass by Reid in the box.

Stoke sent on Amdy Faye for Olofinjana after 58 minutes and a minute later the hosts were two goals ahead.

Kitson's pass sent Pugh racing into the box and he made no mistake of the chance to guide his low shot past Warrington.

Rotherham replaced Danny Harrison with Ryan Taylor while Stoke sent on Ricardo Fuller for Pericard with 15 minutes left.

Kitson was deprived of his first goal for the club by a linesman's flag after 78 minutes after he tapped home when Warrington spilled a Whelan drive.

Reid was then booked for a late tackle on Pugh with eight minutes left, but by then Stoke were coasting into the next round.