Fifteen years ago, Craig Brown’s Lilywhites put the Millers to the sword at Deepdale with a 4-1 victory over Ronnie Moore’s visitors.
It was an impressive display from the home side, who cruised to a deserved victory that condemned ten-man United to a fourth league defeat on the bounce.
Striker Richard Cresswell got the ball rolling after 11 minutes and although Darren Byfield equalised on the stroke of half-time, it proved a false dawn as Ricardo Fuller, Graham Alexander and Brian O'Neil completed the rout.
North End started the game as the better side and Cresswell put them ahead with a fine angled drive past Mike Pollitt in the visitors’ goal.
However, the home side were made to pay for taking their foot of the accelerator when former PNE loanee Byfield latched on to Carl Robinson's delivery and finished with a fine header to stun the home supporters.
But the visitors' joy was short-lived as Jamiacan star Fuller dragged the home side back into the lead after 55 minutes.Rotherham's susceptibility to testing balls into the penalty area was again exposed as Fuller reacted quickly to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.
Another PNE counter-attack caught Rotherham napping and with Cresswell clear on goal, Richie Barker was forced into making a last-ditch challenge that referee Graham Laws deemed to be a foul.
Much to Rotherham's dismay, Barker was sent-off for the challenge and spot kick king Alexander kept his composure before driving the ball into the left-hand corner.
The Lilywhites were buzzing, and when O'Neil hit a wonderful volley that flew into the back of the net from 18 yards, it sealed an easy win for Brown’s boys!
PNE line-up: Gould, Alexander, Jackson, Lucketti, Broomes, Edwards, McKenna, O'Neil, Keane, Cresswell, Fuller. Subs: Etuhu, Cartwright, Healy, Lynch, Lucas.
Rotherham United line-up: Pollitt, Shaun Barker, Swailes, McIntosh, Minto, Sedgwick, Robinson, Talbot, Mullin, Butler, Byfield. Subs: Jones, Scott, Warne, Hurst, Robins.
Referee: Mr G Laws (Tyne & Wear)