'Player welfare was a concern but the game had to go ahead ...' Richie Barker on Rotherham United's Covid loss to Watford

The Millers number two, who came of out a ten-day self-isolation period only today, watched his men go down 4-1 at AESSEAL New York Stadium and suffer their worst defeat of the season.

Rotherham had seen their three previous matches called off because more than half of their camp suffering from coronavirus and Barker agrees there were good grounds to also postpone this evening's clash on the basis of player welfare.

However, with the club facing hectic run of games in their survival run-in, he said: "The bigger picture is we're running out of days.

“We just had to get the game over and done with and as a group we've tried to do the best we can."

Manager Paul Warne was watching from home because of quarantine and Barker was clearly still ill as he addressed the media about a match in which the Millers were missing several key men and had others on the pitch struggling against the effects of the disease.

The club's training ground had reopened only yesterday, giving the stricken squad only 24 hours to prepare for a game against the division's second-placed side.

“It wasn't an ideal scenario to come back after one day's training and play against a former Premier League team who will be there or thereabouts for promotion," he said.

The Millers were 3-0 down at the break and Michael Smith saw a second-half penalty saved before Freddie Ladapo gave them a lifeline with a stunning solo strike.

Only seconds later, though, Watford scored their fourth goal to end the contest.

"I can't fault the effort of the lads," Barker said. "We could have ended up winning the second half, which doesn't give you any points but does give you some momentum."