The on-song Millers, who are still in the Carling Cup, are now through to the trophy's area quarter-final thanks to a stunning 4-2 win over Yorkshire rivals from League One.
The League Two side, who were boosted by their journey into positive points at the weekend following a pre-season 17 point deduction, comprehensively disposed of the former Champions League semi-finalists in stunning fashion.
Mark Hudson, Ian Sharps, Drewe Broughton and Nick Fenton cancelled out strikes from Leeds duo Jonathan Howson and Enoch Showumni to give the hosts a well-deserved second round win.
And now the South Yorkshire club who have had their fair share of off-the-field troubles are ready to go all the way to the new Wembley.
Central defender Sharps gave the Millers a 17th minute lead when his flicked header, from a left wing Andy Nicholas long throw, looped over Lucas into the net.
Howson then levelled for the visitors when he pounced on a loose ball in the box, that had gone this way and that via the outstanding home 'keeper Andy Warrington and Leeds midfielder David Prutton, to convert on 31 minutes. Then came Hudson's close call with Lucas.
Rotherham's lively Reuben Reid had jinked his way in and out of the Leeds defence from 30 yards out to slip the ball past Slovakian defender Lubomir Michalik, who proceeded to bring down his opponent.
Referee Scott Mathieson, from Cheshire, pointed to the spot, giving 27-year-old Hudson the chance to give his side a 44th minute lead.
But his penalty, stroked to Lucas's left, was saved. It did, however, re-bound back out to Bishop Auckland-born Hudson, who lashed the ball home at the second attempt.
He explained: "That is the first one (penalty) I have missed really. When I went and got the ball, Drewe (Broughton) was wanting it. But Pablo (Mills) said that I was the penalty taker, so I had it.
"The keeper came to me, and said 'I see that you always put it in the same corner'. I was thinking when I was walking back whether I should change my mind or not.
"He put that seed of doubt in my mind. But luckily it came back out to me, and I put it in."
The Millers went into half-time with a 2-1 lead. Within eight minutes of the re-start they were 4-1 up.
Striker Broughton fired home a header into the top right corner from Dale Tonge's pinpoint right wing delivery three minutes after the resumption, before Fenton did similar with Reid's left wing corner five minutes later.
"We were happy to go into half-time at 2-1," continued Hudson. But then, out of the blue, we were 4-1 up. I don't even think we could have believed it really. They got one back straight after that.
"It was then backs to the wall really. They went and pushed men forward, but I think the lads played really well.
We are sky-high in confidence."
Leeds striker Showumni made sure of a nervous last 34 minutes for Rotherham, in front of the Sky Television cameras, when he latched onto Andy Robinson's through ball to slip under the advancing Warrington.
Visiting boss Gary McAllister, who had made eight changes to his side that lost a league game at Peterborough United on Saturday, then brought on big guns Jermaine Beckford, Alan Sheehan and Luciano Becchio.
Sheehan and Becchio both had superb chances to make further inroads to the score line, as did the outstanding Robert Snodgrass, Neil Kilkenny and Howson.
But Warrington, who was given the sponsor's man of the match award, was equal to everything the Lillywhites could throw at him.
He saved a Snodgrass header from just six yards out, while he also kept out stinging long range efforts from Kilkenny and Howson. Argentinian frontman Becchio also rattled the bar with a header.
But the Millers held out, leaving their manager Mark Robins delighted: "Leeds aren't even in the Championship, but at the same time they are a Premiership outfit. They have got some real good, talented players," he said.
"Yes they made one or two changes, keeping some of their bigger players on the bench to bring on at a later stage. But at that stage, it was over.
"The only disappointing thing for me, and this is nit-picking, was their two goals. The second one, once we had gone 4-1 up, just gave them a little bit of a sniff. That was the only blemish on a superb performance.
"I think everybody played their part, and they can all take a lot of credit from that. It should give us a real shot in the arm.
"But we have got to keep our feet firmly on the floor because we know what football is like.
"We have got a tough game at Bournemouth on Saturday, and already we have got to turn our attention to that.
"You don't get that long to enjoy your wins in football. We will certainly do that tonight, and we will get back to it tomorrow."
CLICK ON GREEN PLAY BUTTON ABOVE TO SEE MATCH PICTURESWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarOwls Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarWatch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much moreFootball headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 974 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
