Josh Kayode's big moment, four big penalties and Dillon Phillips' big saves ... how Rotherham United 1 Morecambe 1 (4-2 shoot-out) in the Carabao Cup unfolded

ONE small step for Jordan Hugill, two giant leaps for Dillon Phillips.

That was the story of the penalty shoot-out as Championship Rotherham United made sure of their place in the second round of the Carabao Cup at AESSEAL New York Stadium at the expense of League Two Morecambe.

Hugill did that distinctive little check of his in his run-up as he set the Millers on their way, goalkeeper Phillips marked his debut with a couple of flying dives to push away Shrimps attempts.

Tuesday's drama deserved better than to be played out in front of a closed South Stand on a quiet summer night in S60 and the cheers from a sparse crowd emanated from the other end of the ground as Rotherham nailed all four of their spot-kicks to book their place in last night's draw.

Manager Matt Taylor was just glad to see his side prevail after the disappointment of the opening-day league loss at Stoke City three days earlier.

“It was important we went through,” he said. "It was totally different to last Saturday in terms of opposition and feeling.

“It was a pleasing performance. We weren't great in the first 25 minutes, we looked a little bit shell-shocked from the weekend and had a little bit of doubt and negative thinking.

“Then we got to grips with things physically, first and foremost. It's always a physical game first and then skill on top of that, Then we started to build platforms all over the pitch.

“The centre-halves were better from half an hour onwards and so were the centre-forwards, and then we started to get up the pitch on a more regular basis. It was generally one-way traffic in the second half.

“We just lacked that little bit of extra quality against a really stubborn and well-drilled Morecambe team.”

A glut of injuries and a suspension for midfield man Cafu meant the Millers were without eight senior players and there was more room to move on the bench than normal, with two places going spare.

The visitors took a 22nd-minute lead when Yann Songo'o sent Michael Mellon skipping in on goal from the right to fire a low shot across Phillips and into the bottom corner.

Fifteen minutes later came Josh Kayode's big moment. The striker had been out for more than nine months and on his first Millers start in well over a year he ended a goal drought stretching back to February 2022.

He was in the right place at the right time to poke the ball over the line when Rotherham old boy Farrend Rawson failed to clear Cohen Bramall's cross from the left.

Taylor's men took control after the break and teenager Ciaran McGuckin put his head in his hands rather than the ball in the net as he failed to convert a golden close-range chance created by Tyler Blackett's left-flank supply.

Josh Kayode scores his first-ever goal at AESSEAL New York Stadium

So, to the shoot-out. Hugill did his thing, Phillips excelled and it all came down to another new boy, Onyedinma, to seal the deal. Right went Fred as he seized his opportunity by coolly sending Moore the wrong way.

“We had enough chances to win it in the second half,” Taylor said. “Ciaran's header was probably the best one out of the lot, We took good-quality penalties and Dillon made two outstanding saves.”

Phillips is the understudy to Viktor Johansson but earned himself some more match-time with his exploits.

“The biggest reward for him is another game,” Taylor said. “He'll play in the second round. Dillon needs games. He's not played enough over the last couple of seasons. We know he's a quality goalkeeper. He is providing good competition for Viktor.”

Victory meant the home side saw off the visitors in this tournament in S60 for the first time in three attempts since 2016.

“I've got a good record on penalties,” said Phillips.

He couldn't recall the exact details when pressed, but this was a night he won't forget in a hurry.

Penalties: JJ McKiernan (Morecambe) scores, Jordan Hugill (Millers) scores, Jacob Davenport (Morecambe) scores, Ollie Rathbone (Millers) scores, Charlie Brown (Morecambe) saved, Tyler Blackett (Millers) scores, Jake Taylor (Morecambe) saved, Fred Onyedinma (Millers) scores.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Dillon Phillips 8; Cameron Humphreys 7, Sean Morrison 6 (Tyler Blackett 78), Jamie McCart 7; Dexter Lembikisa 7 (Tolaji Bola 78), Ben Wiles 6, Ollie Rathbone 8, Hakeem Odoffin 6, Cohen Bramall 7 (Ciaran McGuckin 78), Georgie Kelly 6 (Jordan Hugill 74), Josh Kayode 6 (Fred Onyedinma 62, 6). Subs not used: Viktor Johansson, Josh Ayres.

Morecambe (4-2-3-1): Stuart Moore; Donald Love, Farrend Rawson, Jacob Bedeau, Joel Senior; Eli King (Jacob Davenport 82), Yann Songo'o; Tom Bloxham (Jake Taylor 74), JJ McKiernan, Jordan Slew (Cammy Smith 74); Michael Mellon (Charlie Brown 74). Subs not used: Adam Smith, Chris Stokes, Max Melbourne, Cameron Rooney.

Goals: Mellon 22 (Morecambe); Kayode 37 (Rotherham).

Referee: Thomas Parsons.

Attendance: 2,834 (111).