Gary Rowett’s Millwall cruised into the FA Cup Fourth Round with a 3-0 win over League Two opponents Newport County at The Den.

Despite a valiant second half performance from the visitors, the Lions showed their pedigree as goals from Matt Smith, Connor Mahoney and Tom Bradshaw highlighted the 54 league places between the two.

Buoyed by a surge towards the Championship play-off spots, Rowett felt confident enough to make seven changes the side that beat Luton 3-1 on New Year’s Day, with Alex Pearce, Bartosz Bialkowski, Jake Cooper and scorer Smith retaining their places.

Boasting a record of two quarter-finals in the last three years the home side soon got into their stride as Smith steered his back post effort home from a corner on seven minutes.

Mahoney looked like adding a second 10 minutes later after beating two men to wriggle into the box but he lost control as he tried to take the ball around King.

The winger then thought he should have won a penalty when he tumbled in the box midway through the first half but referee Tony Harrington saw no foul and King saved from Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

Mahoney was denied again in the 32nd minute when his goal-bound effort was deflected behind by Padraig Amond.

The League Two side, winless in 10 games in the fourth tier, started the second half brightly, with strikers Jamille Matt and Amond both going close to levelling the tie.

Rowett responded by sending on Wales international Bradshaw in place of Smith and the hosts soon had the second goal they craved to quell the Newport resurgence on 64 minutes.

Bodvarsson was fouled in the area by Mark O'Brien and Mahoney sent King the wrong way from the spot to cap his fine display with a goal.

And Bradshaw killed off the contest with a neat lobbed finish at the near post eight minutes from time, with Rowett's men now beaten just once in their last 12 games.