Miserable exit in Vertu Trophy ... on-the-whistle report: Huddersfield Town 3 Rotherham United 0
ROTHERHAM United trooped off at the interval knowing that their Vertu Trophy journey was all but over.
By then, a weakened side were already two goals behind and, with their lack of firepower, a comeback against Huddersfield Town simply wasn't going to happen.
Boos from the smattering of travelling fans greeted their first-half display and the Millers duly went on to concede once more and depart the competition in the Round of 16.
The final whistle signalled a seventh defeat on the trot for the visitors.
Only two sections of the ground were open and there was little atmosphere inside the Accu Stadium on a cold January evening.
Rotherham supporters in the away end were low on numbers and they had little to cheer in the opening stages as the home side dominated possession and territory.
The Millers had a let-off on 15 minutes when a Lenny Abaire slip gave Will Alves a sight of goal and the Town man whipped an effort over the bar.
Soon afterwards, James Clarke let Cameron Aisha slip by him too easily and Ted Cann had to make a save at his near post.
The keeper denied the same player, who'd made a scampering run from the left flank into the box, as the Terriers remained on the attack in the opening half an hour.
A combination of Aisha's poor touch and Sean Raggett's excellent tackle kept the scoreline goalless
The clash pitted together two League One sides, with the 22nd-placed Millers well below play-off contenders Town in the table.
Matt Hamshaw's men had been on the back foot and fell behind in the 37th minute when teenager Clarke shed possession on the right and the ball was worked to Alves who turned and scored with a curling shot from the edge of the area.
Four minutes later, the tie was virtually over as Alves tried to repeat his goal after being allowed to run unhindered by Shaun McWilliams, hit the bar and Lasse Sorensen had an easy job of heading home the rebound.
All the danger was coming down Huddersfield left flank.
Rotherham had left out a number of senior men, with the more important third-tier trip to Stockport County coming up, and there was a first start since October for young centre-half Agbaire after groin surgery.
Beset by injuries, the Millers had named only six substitutes on a young bench that included Ben Hatton for the first time this season following the youngster's return from a long-term hamstring injury.
In a strong Terriers squad was former AESSEAL New York Stadium wide man Mickel Miller who came on in the second half.
Jack Holmes had Rotherham's first attempt on goal, a tame shot on the hour mark that gave Lee Nicholls a comfortable save. It would prove to be the only one in a lack-lustre second period.
Cann thwarted the clean-through Alfie May and Miller lifted the ball over the woodwork as the clock began to tick down while, at the other end, the Millers’ threat remained as sparse as it had been throughout a poor, poor evening.
Ashia wrapped up proceedings late on with a curling finish and, predictably, there were more Rotherham boos at the end.
They’ve become the recent soundtrack to the season.
Huddersfield (3-5-2): Lee Nicholls; Radinio Balker (Ruben Roosken 75), Murray Wallace, Josh Feeney; Lasse Sorensen, Marcus Harness (Lynden Gooch 75), Marcus McGuane (Ryan Ledson H-T), Will Alves (Mickel Miller 60), Cameron Ashia; Joe Taylor, Alfie May. Subs not used: Jak Alnwick, Lynden Gooch, Ruben Roosken, Dion Charles, Bojan Radulovic.
Rotherham (3-5-2): Ted Cann, Lenny Agbaire, Sean Raggett (Joe Rafferty 65), Zak Jules; James Clarke, Shaun McWilliams (Ben Hatton 76), Ar'Jany Martha (Dean Gardner 82), Dru Yearwood,, Jack Holmes; Jordan Hugill (Josh Ayres 65), Kion Etete (Jamal Baptiste H-T). Subs not used: Cameron Dawson.
Goals: Alves 37, Sorensen 41, Ashia 87 (Huddersfield)
Referee: Stephen Parkinson