Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore's selection gamble paid off handsomely as his team gained their first win in seven games.

Moore has had a strange fortnight since allegedly being targeted by Ipswich to replace George Burley.

The Millers boss put that saga to one side, though, as he took the brave step of axing eight-goal Darren Byfield and was rewarded with two goals from his replacement.

Richie Barker, who had scored three times and only started four games this season, grabbed his chance as he netted either side of half-time.

Alan Lee's ninth goal of the season six minutes before the break effectively sealed the points against struggling Stoke, and Chris Swailes added a fourth goal three minutes from time.

Barker took just 15 minutes to break the deadlock against a Stoke side who had lost both games since the resignation of manager Steve Cotterill.

Cutler helpless

Alan Lee did the spadework for the goal, taking the ball from deep towards the by-line where he clipped a cross to the near post and Barker applied the headed finish past Neil Cutler.

Cutler was powerless in the 39th minute when Rotherham increased their lead.

A move engineered by Rob Scott down the right saw Lee finish with a lob over the keeper from the edge of the area.

City, with just one away win this season, were sunk within eight minutes of the restart when Andy Monkhouse set up Barker whose right-footed effort beat Cutler from the edge of the box.

Rotherham could have gone further ahead just before the hour when Darren Garner's outswinging corner found the head of Chris Swailes, the effort going just too high.

To rub salt into the visitors' wounds, Swailes pounced in the 87th minute for Rotherham's fourth.

James O'Connor fouled Paul Warne and from Nicky Daws' free-kick substitute Byfield headed on and Swailes powered a header home from six yards.

Rotherham: Pollitt, Scott, Swailes, McIntosh, Hurst, Sedgwick, Daws, Garner, Monkhouse, Richard Barker, Lee. Subs: Gray, Bryan, Warne, Robins, Byfield.

Stoke: Cutler, Thomas, Shtanuk, Handyside, Clarke, Gudjonsson, O'Connor, Gunnarsson, Hoekstra, Cooke, Mooney. Subs: Viander, Greenacre, Goodfellow, Henry, Vandeurzen.

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland)