Leeds were dumped out of the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy at The Don Valley Stadium.
Gary McAllister made eight changes from the side that played at Peterborough United; David Lucas was recalled after his finger injury during the warm up on Saturday.
The Whites made a bright start and Robert Snodgrass hit the cross bar with a long range free kick.
Shortly afterwards Andy Robinson had a stinging shot superbly saved by Andy Warrington in the Rotherham goal.
It was Rotherham though who scored first, a long throw caught Leeds keeper Lucas in two minds and Sharps looping header drifted over the stranded keeper and into the net.
Leeds were soon back on level terms when a hard drive across the box by Prutton was saved by Warrington but after a scramble the ball fell to Howson who shot past the Rotherham keeper.
Neil Kilkenny then had a thunderous long range shot which had Warrington beaten but the ball just went wide of the post.
Rotherham went back in front just before half time, Reuben Reid was allowed to waltz through the centre of the Leeds defence and a desperate challenge from Andy Hughes resulted in a penalty to the home side.
Mark Hudson stepped up and placed the ball to Lucas`s left, the keeper guessed right but could only push the ball back out to Hudson who gleefully put the ball in at the second attempt.
Rotherham put the game beyond Leeds within the first ten minutes of the second half, firstly a fine cross from the right was superbly headed in by Drewe Broughton and then from a corner Nick Fenton powered another header past the helpless Lucas.
Rui Marques who had a terrible night in defence was caught napping for both goals and failed to pick up his attacker.
Leeds soon pulled a goal back when Showunmi somehow got the ball through Warrington from a tight angle.
Leeds decided on an all out attack, first Snodgrass`s point blank header was pushed away by Warrington and then Substitute Becchio`s header hit the bar.
It looked all over for Leeds when with ten minutes left they were reduced to ten men, having already used their three substitutes; Alan Sheehan limped off with what looked like a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury.
Rotherham had just named their man of the match, keeper Andy Warrington when he made a fantastic double save at the death, first to deny a Howson long range effort and then getting across Becchio from the rebound.
A disappointing result although on another night Leeds could have scored four or five if not for the heroics of the Rotherham keeper.
What was more worrying was the ease in which Rotherham scored their four goals.
Join Vital Leeds United!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital today?
It’s easy to register here and enjoy getting involved
Message Board
To visit the message board, click here.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital leeds .
Join Vital Leeds
Join Vital Leeds United!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital today?
It’s easy to register here and enjoy getting involved
Message Board
To visit the message board, click here.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital leeds .