Baggies cruise into semis

Albion, who have reached the semi-finals for the first time in 26 years, looked firmly in control after goals from James Morrison and Miller before the half-hour mark.

Danny Coles immediately halved Rovers' deficit to leave the tie delicately poised at the break, but Miller netted a controversial second goal to restore the Baggies' two-goal advantage midway through the second half before substitute Kevin Phillips put the tie beyond doubt with his 19th goal of the season soon after.

Miller completed his treble and added some gloss to the scoreline with low finish five minutes from time.

Albion took the lead in the 17th minute when Roman Bednar controlled Chris Brunt's throughball on his thigh before holding off a challenge from a Rovers defender and surging goalwards. The Czech striker got a low shot away from the edge of the area that Phillips should have done better than to parry into the path of Morrison, who side-footed the ball home from close-range.

And Miller doubled their lead on the half-hour mark, latching on to a long punt forward and turning his marker on the right-hand side of the penalty area before unleashing a left-foot shot that flew past Steve Phillips with the aid of a slight deflection.

But Rovers were not disheartened and produced an instant reply. Coles ghosted in unmarked at the far post to poke the ball through Dean Kiely's legs from inside the six-yard box following Stuart Campbell's corner.

Miller restored Albion's two-goal advantage in the 69th minute in controversial circumstances. Robert Koren headed the ball forward in the direction of Phillips, with Miller retreating from an offside position. Rovers defender Craig Hinton flicked the ball on and it broke to Miller who held off a challenge to slide the ball under Phillips from 15 yards out.

Phillips all but settled the tie soon after when another clever reverse ball by Koren put him through on goal and he poked the ball into the bottom corner. Lewis Haldane hit the post in the 81st minute with a right-foot shot from the edge of the area as Rovers looked to get back into the tie.

But it was to no avail as Miller completed his hat-trick and added some gloss to the scoreline in the 85th minute, controlling a low cross before coolly steering the ball into the bottom corner from 15 yards.