Tommy Black took his goals tally to three in two games as Crystal Palace burst Rotherham's bubble at Millmoor with a 3-1 win.

Singled out by Millers manager Ronnie Moore in the build-up as one of the danger men, Black lived up to his billing by scoring two goals and creating the other in a sparkling display which consigned Rotherham's 6-2 triumph over Burnley last week quickly to memories.

Constantly prompting and probing in the hole behind the front two, it took Black just 11 minutes to dampen the mood of euphoria, tapping the ball home after good work from Dele Adebola.

Julian Gray heaped further misery on the home fans with a sweetly-struck second goal, low into the far corner of the net in first-half stoppage time.

And Rotherham's chances of extending their unbeaten run at home to six games were effectively extinguished when Black found the top corner of Mike Pollitt's goal within seconds of the Millers' John Mullin having a headed effort disallowed for offside.

Substitute Darren Byfield was rewarded for an energetic second-half display when he pulled one back for the hosts, but a short-lived fightback was never likely to prevent Rotherham from slipping to only their second home defeat of the season.

As much as Moore would have liked, he was unable to field the same team which ran riot at Turf Moor with suspended Chris Sedgwick making way for Paul Warne.

Palace boss Trevor Francis recalled 17-year-old Gary Borrowdale in place of Will Antwi, while Shaun Derry replaced Andy Johnson, who broke his toe in Tuesday's Worthington Cup defeat against Sheffield United.

Although the visitors enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, Rotherham fashioned the first attempt on goal, Andy Monkhouse feeding overlapping Paul Hurst. His cross was met at the far post by Alan Lee but the angle was too tight to beat Alex Kolinko.

Hurst must, however, shoulder a certain amount of blame for Palace's opener. He was outpaced by powerful Adebola, who had collected the ball deep inside his own half before squaring it for Black to tuck past Pollitt.

Palace goalkeeper Kolinko was afforded significantly more support from his own defenders, Darren Powell clearing the ball off the line after the goalkeeper's poor handling had given Warne the chance of a clear shot from just inside the penalty area.

Adebola was next to waste a clear opportunity, firing straight at Pollitt after a fortunate rebound off Chris Swailes. It was the culmination of one of several dangerous counter-attacking moves from the visitors, whose speed on the break was arguably the most significant factor in their victory.

After Gray had latched onto Black's through-ball to put Palace 2-0 up, the gloves came off for Rotherham. Quite literally, for Byfield - a half-time replacement for Warne - decided it was not as cold as first thought and threw his pair to Moore on the touchline.

Byfield then had a hand in the hosts' best opportunity, teeing up Monkhouse to deliver a deep cross from the right flank. Lee climbed highest but Mullin was deemed to be offside when nodding the ball deftly over Kolinko.

The disappointment at having a goal disallowed was compounded by Black's second. And although the defence could be accused of not closing down Black quickly enough, there was little Pollitt could do to keep out his delightful curling effort from well outside the area.

As to be expected from a side managed by Moore, Rotherham refused to accept defeat with the arrival of effervescent Byfield sparking a period of concerted pressure on the Palace goal.

It brought its reward in the 68th minute, Byfield latching onto the rebound after Lee's poor penalty - awarded for an Aki Riihilahti handball - was well saved by Kolinko.

But that was as good as it got for Rotherham, whose game was summed up when Monkhouse drew a fine save from Kolinko when clean through on goal in the dying moments.