City are into the Quarter Finals of the Carling Cup for the first time in almost 30-years after a comfortable 2-0 victory over League Two side Rotherham United.

Glenn Whelan's outstanding long range free-kick was followed up by Danny Pugh's first goal for the Club in the second half to ensure a place in Saturday's draw.

City boss Tony Pulis has, as expected, made a whole host of changes ahead of the game.

Dave Kitson, Richard Cresswell and Glenn Whelan, who all came off the bench against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, edstart with the latter taking the captain's armband.

There are also places in the line-up for Steve Simonsen, Andy Wilkinson and Carl Dickinson with Ricardo Fuller and Rory Delap named amongst the substitutes.

Rotherham made one change to the team that drew at Aldershot Town in the FA Cup at the weekend, with top scorer Reuben Reid coming in for Omar Garcia.

City started the side the brighter of the two sides with Whelan first to try his luck from range, only to see his effort dip just over the bar.

Ten minutes in and City really should have taken the lead. Ryan Shawcross rose highest from Whelan's superb centre, but he somehow headed the ball over from just four yards.

The hosts continued to dominate the early proceedings and again went close eight minutes later after Kitson cleverly played in Pericard, who blazed over when he should have done better.

The breakthrough did finally come after some heavy pressure in the 18th minute, and it was the industrious Whelan who fired them ahead.

The Republic of Ireland international sublimely curled a 25-yard free-kick past Andy Warrington in the Millers net to deservedly make it 1-0.

The goal kicked the visitors into life and an individual piece of magic on the left flank almost led to a quick equaliser.

Former Brentford winger Alex Rhodes danced past Andy Wilkinson and whipped in a dangerous ball which just evaded the fast approaching Drewe Broughton.

Just after the half hour City nearly doubled their advantage after Richard Cresswell swivelled and fired an audacious effort goalwards which Warrington outstandingly palmed onto the post, before Pablo Mills swept it away from danger.

Mark Robins' side continued to struggle against their higher league opposition and could have fallen further behind just before half time, had the influential Whelan hit the target after a neat knockdown from Cort.

Neither side made any changes during the interval, and once the game got back underway it was the Potters who continued from where they left off.

Some good football between Olofinjana and Whelan led to the Nigerian international brushing aside defender Ian Sharps, however his effort was tame and the Millers keeper gathered comfortably.

More one touch football resulted in Pericard firing an effort in from range, which agonisingly drifted the wrong side of the right hand post.

Simonsen had to be alert to thwart Reuben Reid from close range in the 52nd minute, before Houghton wasted a great opportunity moments later when he fired over with just the City stopper to beat.

They would come to rue those missed chances as the Potters added to their one goal lead to put one foot in the Quarter-Finals of the competition.

Pugh used his pace to latch on to an astute Kitson through ball and then smashed it under Warrington, before setting off to celebrate in spectacular style pulling off a cartwheel and a backflip.

Despite his best attempts Kitson's luckless run in front of goal continued as he was adjudged to have been offside after capitalising on a parried save from Warrington with twenty minutes remaining.

Pulis introduced leading scorer Ricardo Fuller as the game neared an end, but he could only fire wide after good play down the right.

Dale Tonge almost spectacularly pulled a late goal back for the visitors from 40-yards, but Simonsen was equal to his effort.