Rotherham United 1-4 Milton Keynes Dons

Dean Bowditch celebrates after scoring MK Dons' third goal at Rotherham

MK Dons celebrated their first-ever game in the Championship in style with a 4-1 win over Rotherham United.

Rob Hall gave Karl Robinson's side a dream start as he scored from close range inside the first five minutes.

Matt Derbyshire equalised soon after, but the Dons were 3-1 up at the break after a deflected goal for Jordan Spence and one for Dean Bowditch.

Carl Baker completed the rout as his powerful second-half shot beat Kelle Roos at his near post.

The victory extended MK Dons' unbeaten run in the opening league fixture to seven seasons - they last lost their first league game in 2008 when they were beaten 2-0 at Leicester City.

Hall tapped in from a yard out after Roos palmed out Bowditch's ball from the left.

But their lead only last seven minutes as Derbyshire headed in Chris Maguire's corner at the near post.

Derbyshire was in the thick of the action as he then went close with another header before having a shot parried onto the bar by David Martin, with Aidy White missing the rebound.

But the Dons then took command as Spence's cross took a deflection and wrong-footed Millers goalkeeper Kelle Roos before Bowditch turned in Ben Reeves' cross seven minutes later.

Paul Green and Tom Thorpe missed headers in the second half as Rotherham got back into it before Baker blasted his shot into the top corner after a great solo run.

Rotherham manager Steve Evans: "If you don't defend right and take chances at key stages of the match it's always going to be tough.

"There's no excuse. The defending wasn't good enough. I'm not coming out to make excuses. We'll take it bang in the face and get on with our football.

"There has been no shouting and bawling in the dressing room. It's just been a lesson learned."

MK Dons manager Karl Robinson: "We were really humbled by the players' performance today.

"To be at this level makes us very proud and we put an assured performance in. I don't think I could ask for anything more from the players.

"Internally we are very, very confident. To be tipped to go down and finish 24th is tremendous motivation for us. For the first day of the season it is excellent, but we cannot get carried away in August."

Rotherham's Lee Frecklington is challenged by Sam Carruthers

MK Dons goalscorer Dean Bowditch is challenged by Rotherham United's Chris Maguire

Carl Baker is congratulated by his teammates after scoring MK Dons' fourth