On-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 1 Watford 4

The infection has swept through the Millers this month and they were lacking key men and had some players still feeling the effects of the virus as they battled bravely but succumbed to the division's form side.

A depleted squad had had only one day's training leading up to the clash and the Hornets, who arrived in South Yorkshire in second spot and with seven wins from their last eight outings, were the last team they needed to face.

Three first-half goals virtually ended the contest by half-time and manager Paul Warne, watching online at his home in Tickhill while he is self-isolating, will have found it tough viewing.

Michael Smith saw his penalty saved on the hour-mark before the two sides traded quickfire strikes - including a second stunner in two weeks by Freddie Ladapo - to end the scoring.

Despite their troubled circumstances, the third-bottom Millers made a flying start without troubling visiting goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann before Watford signalled their attacking intent with a fizzing eighth-minute shot from Ismaila Sarr that was deflected away for a corner.

When the ball came back into the box, Francisco Sierralta rose to head it past Jamal Blackman who allowed himself to be beaten too easily.

Rotherham had their first serious attempt on goal in the 16th minute, Angus MacDonald glancing a header from Dan Barlaser's free-kick off target, but found themselves further behind ten minute later.

Blackman atoned for his earlier poor play with a sharp save from Nathaniel Chalobah only for Ismaila Sarr fires the rebound into the roof of the net.

It was harsh on the home team. They were so reduced in numbers that they had two untried youngsters in Jacob Gratton and Jake Hull on their eight-man bench yet they were trying to get forward at every opportunity.

Blackman did well again on 38 minutes, diving full stretch to tip away a Chalobah drive that was heading for the top corner, but seconds later Rotherham conceded a third when Ken Sema despatched a clinical effort past the keeper.

A Matt Olosunde shot was easily saved by Bachman and then Rotherham shouts for handball and a penalty went unanswered on the stroke of half-time.

With Covid hitting them so hard, the Millers had several players in their squad who, in normal circumstances, would have been deemed unfit to play.

In a side showing five changes to the one that had won the Sheffield Wednesday derby at Hillsborough a fortnight ago, Richard Wood and Michael Ihiekwe were back in the centre of defence.

Attacker Ladapo's last-minute S6 heroics off the bench had earned him a start while goalkeeper Blackman and midfielder Shaun MacDonald were also selected.

It needed a stunning block from Wood on Joao Pedro to deny Watford a fourth soon after the break before the Millers were thrown a lifeline when Smith was brought down in the box by William Troost-Ekong.

The in-form frontman got up, took the 60th-minute penalty himself and made good contact but Bachman made a great stop to his right.

With 68 minutes on the clock, Ladapo produced a Hillsborough repeat, breaking down the left, cutting inside and firing in a wonderful shot

However, Watford went straight down the other end to restore their three-goal advantage with a Dan Gosling tap-in.

Blackman had produced a decent save from Philip Zinckernagel before the goals and then thwarted Pedro afterwards.

The action finished with Kieran Sadlier bending a free-kick over the bar on a night the Millers will be glad to put behind them.

Goals: Sierralta 9, Sarr 26, Sema 39, Gosling 69 (Watford); Ladapo 68 (Rotherham).

Rotherham United (3-5-2): Jamal Blackman; Michael Ihiekwe, Richard Wood, Angus MacDonald; Matt Olosunde (Ryan Giles 73), Dan Barlaser, Shaun MacDonald (Kieran Sadlier 73), Matt Crooks, Ben Wiles (Wes Harding 55); Freddie Ladapo (George Hirst 79), Michael Smith (Florian Jozefzoon 79). Subs not used: Viktor Johansson, Jake Hull, Jacob Gratton.

Watford (4-2-3-1): Daniel Bachmann; Kiko Femenia (Jeremy Ngakia 53), William Troost-Ekong, Francisco Sierralta, Adam Masina; Nathaniel Chalobah (Dan Gosling 67), Will Hughes (Isaac Success 79); Ismaila Sarr (Andre Gray 53), Philip Zinckernagel (Carlos Sanchez), Ken Sema; Joao Pedro. Subs not used: Ben Foster, Craig Cathcart, Achraf Lazaar, Joseph Hungbo.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).