Juninho tormented First Division Rotherham as Middlesbrough stepped up their Premiership preparations at Millmoor last night.

Rotherham simply couldn't handle the Brazilian, who scored the opening goal and created another for Doriva with a marvellous through ball.

And Juninho even made a crucial contribution to the other goal from Malcolm Christie early in the second-half - without touching the ball.

Scott Minto, on trial at Rotherham after leaving West Ham, was so alarmed by Juninho's presence that he unwittingly set up an opportunity for Christie.

Rotherham did manage a consolation goal through Alan Lee in a lively affair which provided an ideal warm-up for 16 players used by Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren.

He said: "It proved to be a very good work-out against a tough Rotherham side. We've progressed since Saturday's game and I'm very pleased with the players."

Middlesbrough's victory was rarely in doubt from as early as the seventh minute when Juninho gave them the lead with a stylish goal.

The Brazilian directed a 20-yard free-kick over the wall and into the top corner - and almost added another seven minutes when another free-kick was saved by keeper Mike Pollitt.

McClaren revealed: "He was practising free-kicks all day yesterday and didn't get one of them, but he showed tonight that he's getting sharper."

There should have been other goals for Boro in the first-half when they were generally a yard quicker than First Division Rotherham in thought and action.

The best chance went to Szilard Nemeth, who took advantage of slack defending to round Pollitt in the 12th minute, only to slice his shot wide of the empty goal.

Pollitt also dealt well with efforts from Nemeth and Juninho, while Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer's only first-half involvement came when he blocked Shaun Barker's 18th-minute shot.

But, with winger Chris Sedgwick troubling Alan Wright, there were other opportunities for Rotherham, despite the immaculate form of skipper Gareth Southgate at the heart of the defence.

Sedgwick and Alan Lee were both narrowly off-target, while Mark Robins found space on the six-yard line in the 43rd minute, but his shot on the turn ballooned over the bar.

Rotherham should have been level, though, after only ten seconds of the second-half when a rare mistake by Doriva released Lee, who placed his shot inches wide of the near post.

Middlesbrough stretched their lead in the 50th minute when Christie finished in crisp style and Doriva was equally effective when he converted Juninho's pass in the 66th minute. In between, Lee cut in from the left to score Rotherham's goal from a narrow angle.

Rotherham (4-4-2): Pollitt; S Barker (Scott 85), Swailes, McIntosh (Branston 75), Minto; Sedgwick (Warne 77), Talbot (Mullin 77), Daws (Monkhouse 70), Garner (Hurst 85); Robins (Byfield 60), Lee (R Barker 60).

Middlesbrough (4-3-1-2): Schwarzer (Crossley 66); Parnaby (Stockdale 86), Riggott, Southgate (Davies 83), Wright (Cooper 80); Wilson (Marinelli 53), Doriva, Greening; Juninho; Nemeth, Christie (Downing 53).