Gestures, jubilation and goals, goals, goals ... the 'TikTok' story of Rotherham United 4 Reading 0

Captain Richard Wood had just set Rotherham United their way to their biggest-ever Championship win under Paul Warne and ran to the West Stand to celebrate.

Assorted family and friends were there at AESSEAL New York Stadium as he scored for the first time in ten months and the veteran skipper was thinking of a video his 11-year-old son had posted on social-media site TikTok a day earlier.

"While we were out in the shade in the garden at home Graye was bored so he did this 'Jiggle Jiggle' dance that’s all the rage at the moment," Wood grinned.

"Right at the end there's a bit that goes 'Red, red wine' and he uses his hands to mimic my pose from when I scored last season against Portsmouth.

"He told me to do it if I scored and I'd mentioned it to a few of the lads in the dressing before the game. Seven minutes in, I score, so I've got to do it, haven't I? Thirty-seven years old and I'm doing a TikTok dance!"

It set the tone, it set the mood, it set the Millers on their way.

Rotherham are supposed to scrap against relegation this season not destroy visitors long established at this level.

They were too quick, too slick, too relentless, too much for a Reading side made to freeze in 80-degree temperatures. The first-half onslaught was something to behold.

"We put crosses in, won second balls, got forward, switched the ball well," manager Paul Warne said after his side had made it a four-point haul from their opening two matches.

The Millers had never scored four times in a second-tier match in Warne's tenure, but something glorious was happening.

On TikTok Saturday the goals were going in like clockwork.

THE MATCH

"Rotherham bullied us," said Reading boss Paul Ince.

It was music to his Millers counterpart's ears.

"I am buzzing with that," Warne said. "I played with a team of smurfs. They are not the biggest. If they have bullied Reading that says something good about the little guys.

"When we had a chance, we took it. The lads were really ruthless. To pick up points in this league you have to be."

Wood's head planted Ben Wiles' perfect cross into the corner of the net, then Conor Washington opened his Rotherham account by lashing the ball home from an angle only he among the 9,000-plus people in the stadium thought it was possible to score from.

Jamie Lindsay tried his luck and said luck was in as bungling goalkeeper Joe Lumley helped an innocuous shot over the line.

It had taken the Millers 11 minutes to make a statement about an entire season.

As half-time approached, Lumley was nowhere and Chiedozie Ogbene everywhere as the attacker raced on to Dan 'Three Assists' Barlaser's quickly-taken free-kick, rounded the keeper and fired into an empty goal for his third strike in three games.

"I thought we were really good in the first half," Warne said. "The lads took on the game-plan really well. We scored at good times and to go in 4-0 at half-time was a joy.

"We deserved to win; maybe not by four goals but I'm not complaining! People turn up to see shots and goals and hopefully they have gone home happy."

When everything had calmed down, Wood wandered into the media suite; tired, serene, savouring the occasion.

Conor Washington's turn

"Both my boys were there, my missus and my dad as well, plus two of my lads' mates," he said. "They couldn't believe I'd done the celebration. They were all laughing. It was a nice little thing."

The only thing hotter than Rotherham was the weather and the game was halted in each half for a drinks break.

Maybe the sun got to the head of Ince because he talked of Rotherham's long-ball approach. The Millers hadn't played over the Royals, they'd played through them and round them.

The visitors, as they had to, went on the attack after the break until substitutions on the hour-mark gave the home team control again.

Viktor Johansson, having made first-half stops to deny Tom Holmes and Junior Hoilett, saved sharply from the latter but and Wood and Wiles could have added to the scoreline.

"We have got another match in three days and then another one four days after that," Warne said

"It was about saving people for the next game and trying to give people behind me in the dugout a chance to impress. I thought the subs did well."

By then, the damage had been done.

Goal. Goal. Goal. Goal. All before the interval. So much for drought warnings.

CHIEO ON THE CHARGE

Washington has scored a worldie and run his blood to water.

But he knew who the day's main man was.

At the final whistle, he made a beeline for Ogbene, raised his arms and then laughingly bowed in deference to his strike partner.

Warne exalted a duo who give his team pace and possibilities up front.

"I think the Championship suits Chieo as a striker, more so than League One," he said. "The more the game gets stretched, the more he causes problems. At times he was near-unplayable.

"I love Conor, he works his chuff off. We keep saying to him: 'Don't be afraid to shoot'. I thought he was excellent. That goal was 'hit the car-park or hit the net'.

Meanwhile, Wood voiced his temptation to have a glass of red in the evening. It seemed only right after the TikTok moment yet he knew he wouldn't. "We've got a game on Tuesday." he sighed.

There were no such restrictions on the manager and his number two, Richie Barker, who were with their wives that night as the four enjoyed a meal out together. That result, that performance needed celebrating.

Yes, we'll take a bottle please.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Grant Hall (Lee Peltier 68), Richard Wood, Cameron Humphreys; Wes Harding, Ben Wiles, Dan Barlaser (Scott High 60), Jamie Lindsay (Ollie Rathbone 60), Shane Ferguson (Cohen Bramall 74); Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Washington (Georgie Kelly 60). Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Jamie McCart.

Reading (3-5-1-1): Joe Lumley; Andy Yiadom, Tom Holmes, Tom McIntyre; Junior Hoilett (Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan 87), Tyrese Fornah, Jeff Hendrick (Mamadi Camara 74), Mamadou Loum, Nesta Guinness-Walker; Tom Ince; Shane Long. Subs not used: Dean Bouzanis, Kelvin Abrefa, John Clarke, Louie Holzman, Michael Craig.

Goals: Wood 7, Washington 15, Lindsay 18, Ogbene 45+1 (Rotherham).

Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 9,263 (637).