More 'magic' from Richard Wood's Millers ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 1 Watford 1

RICHARD Wood's fourth goal of the season saw Rotherham United extend their unbeaten home start to their Championship campaign.

The defender who can't stop scoring needed only two minutes to hit the target in a thrilling clash with high-flying Watford at AESSEAL New York Stadium this afternoon.

The Millers troubled the visitors throughout the contest but a 33rd-minute equaliser saw the points shared.

Rotherham remain in 12th place and haven't lost in four league games on their own soil.

It was further evidence that they belong at this level after three failed attempts to stay up.

The encounter had barely kicked off when there was that man, Wood, doing the damage again.

Wes Harding lofted the ball into the area from the right flank and the skipper was on hand to glance the ball beyond goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.

It was a fast, frenetic start with both teams attacking at pace and the Millers causing all manner of problems for a side that were in the Premier League last term.

On 13 minutes, Cohen Bramall curled in a free-kick that the diving Bachmann punched away as the Hornets struggled to hold Paul Warne's men at bay.

In the thick of the action was Ben Wiles making his 150th league appearance for his hometown club. The midfielder fed Conor Washington who could only shoot wide on the turn.

New York was again close to a sell-out and there a raucous atmosphere as the home fans warmed to the all-out effort and quicksilver play they were watching.

The visitors, unbeaten away, equalised with their first attempt on target, Vakoun Bayo, who'd hit a last-minute Tuesday-night winner against Middlesbrough, guiding a superb volley at the back post from Ken Sema's cross beyond the reach of Viktor Johansson.

That sparked a spell of Hornets pressure but by the interval Rotherham were also asking questions again.

Referee Leigh Doughty, who'd spent the first half handing out soft yellow cards, was booed off.

The Millers had made just one change to the side that had given up their five-match unbeaten league start at Sunderland in midweek.

Bramall was fit after a hamstring niggle and took his place as wing-back on the left flank where his speed was needed against one of the quickest attacking sides in the division.

Shane Ferguson dropped to the bench to make way for him.

Centre-halves Grant Hall and Cameron Humphreys missed out with hamstring injuries but should be back for next weekend's derby at Sheffield United.

To the Millers' relief, Watford were without dangerman Ismaila Sarr because of a knee issue.

Rotherham attacked from the restart and Lee Peltier's deflected low shot went just the wrong side of the post.

At other end, it required a stunning save from Johansson to keep the scores level when Yaser Asprilla met Joao Pedro's set-up with a full-blooded volley.

Dan Barlaser's 20-yard effort for the Millers soon afterwards was hit even more forcibly and forced Bachmann into a scrambled stop.

Wiles pace and desire took him beyond the Hornets' backline only for his pull-back to fall just behind the onrushing Washington who would have had an open net.

There was a 68th-minute let-off for the home team when Pedro's cross evaded everyone and bounced back off the post.

Rotherham had to defend, Watford had to defend as two committed sides chased a winner.

It came for neither side and the Millers could be proud of their display.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Wes Harding (Jamie McCart 90+1), Richard Wood, Lee Peltier; Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Ben Wiles (Jamie Lindsay 80), Dan Barlaser (Scott High 63), Ollie Rathbone (Shane Ferguson 90+1), Cohen Bramall; Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Washington (Tom Eaves 63). Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Georgie Kelly.

Watford (3-1-4-2): Daniel Bachmann; Craig Cathcart, Christian Kabasele, Kortney Hause; Hamza Choudhury; Hassane Kamara (Mario Gaspar 63), Yaser Asprilla (Keinan Davis 67), Edo Kayembe, Ken Sema (Joseph Hungbo 90); Vakoun Bayo, Joao Pedro. Subs not used: Ben Hamer, William Troost-Ekong, Dan Gosling, Francisco Sierralta.

Goals: Wood 2 (Rotherham); Bayo 33 (Watford).

Referee: Leigh Doughty (Lancashire).

Attendance: 10,607 (1,834).