Peterborough United eased into the second round of the Carling Cup following a 4-1 victory over Rotherham United at London Road, but a nasty injury to Aaron Mclean took the gloss of the comfortable home success.

Posh boss Gary Johnson made one change to the starting line-up, Charlie Lee replacing Grant McCann, who is on international duty with Northern Ireland.

An effort from Aaron Mclean was deflected wide of the target on six minutes as the home side made a positive start to the cup-tie. Ryan Bennett headed a Mendez-Laing cross wide of the goal moments later as the action continued to be in the Rotherham defensive third.

Boyd and Wesolowski both saw efforts blocked before a Mclean cross struck the arm of Rotherham centre back Cresswell, however the referee Mr Hegley waved away the protests. Howard Webb, the World Cup referee and Rotherham fan, was in the stands watching the game.

However, against the run of play, it was Rotherham who got their noses in front as Marcus MARSHALL squeezed a shot through the legs of Joe Lewis with the shot taking a slight deflection. The ball fell to the winger after a poor clearance from Mendez-Laing and the Millers had opened the scoring with their first foray into the Posh penalty area.

The goal did lift the spirits of the Rotherham team who were knocking the ball around with renewed confidence, but the pace of Craig Mackail-Smith was beginning to worry them at the other end and when he was upended, a Boyd free-kick was glanced wide by Langmead.

Craig Mackail-Smith was sent clean through via a lovely Mclean pass on 33 minutes, but Warrington stayed big and made a good save with his legs to deny the front man. Lee then curled a 25-yard free-kick wide of the upright after the same player was fouled by Harrison.

Posh levelled the scores on 34 minutes as a well flighted corner kick from Boyd was powered home past Warrington by a towering Ryan BENNETT at the back post.

Bennett was close to making it 2-1 moments later as another Boyd set-piece caused a bit of panic in the Rotherham back-line, but he headed wide of the target.

Parity was restored on 38 minutes as a short corner kick caught out the visitors, BOYD playing a one-two with Wesolowski and firing low past Warrington at the near post.

Nicky Law volleyed over the crossbar on the stroke of half-time after good work from Taylor as the Millers tried to respond before the break.

Half-time: Posh 2-1 Rotherham United

A cross from Boyd nearly drifted into the back of the net on 50 minutes after a Bennett clearance fell kindly for the highly-rated winger. Posh forced a succession of corners that came to nothing as Posh tried to establish a two-goal cushion and both managers were beginning to contemplate changes.

The home side were playing some good football though in the attacking third and a slick one-two between Boyd and Mendez-Laing saw the latter race into the box, but Warrington made a superb save to deny the on-loan winger.

Posh did finally make it 3-1 and owed a lot to the pace and awareness from full-back Mark Little who raced into the box and delivered a pinpoint pass to MCLEAN who made no mistake.

A double substitution was made on 67 minutes as Tommy Rowe and Dave Hibbert were introduced into the fray as Posh deployed three strikers with Mackail-Smith operating on the right of the trio.

Posh were dealt a huge blow moments later though as Mclean was carried off on a stretcher after a nasty challenge by Harrison, which appeared to clatter into the striker's knee. Mclean received a raptorous reception from the home faithful as he was carried from the field towards the Medical Centre. Initial reports suggested the pain was around the ankle.

Adam Le Fondre curled wide of the target on 77 minutes after receiving the benefit of the doubt from referee Mr Hegley following a tussle with Langmead by the touch-line. Nicky Law fired wide less than 60 seconds later as the Millers tried to reduce the arrears as the Posh tempo dropped following the injury to Mclean.

Substitute Hibbert was superbly denied by Warrington on 83 minutes after a good ball into the box by Boyd before Lee poked a Boyd corner wide of the target.

Posh made the game safe on 85 minutes as substitute Tomlin delivered a superb low centre into the box, which was converted at the back post by MACKAIL-SMITH.

Stephen Brogan attempted an ambitious chip on 88 minutes, but Lewis was never going to be beaten like that, particularly as the effort sailed over the bar in any case.

Final Score: Posh 4-1 Rotherham United

Posh: Lewis, Little, Langmead, Lee, Wesolowski, Mclean (sub Tomlin 70min), Boyd, Mackail-Smith, Bennett, Mendez-Laing (sub Hibbert 67min), Nana (sub Rowe 67min). Unused subs: Piergianni, Koranteng, Davies, Collis.

Rotherham: Warrington, Newey, Harrison, Cresswell, Law, Taylor (sub Warne 75min), Le. Fondre, Brogan, Ashworth, Ellison, Marshall. Unused subs: Green, Banks, Darley, Annerson.

Attendance: 4,145 (242 Rotherham fans)