Vakoun Bayo’s brilliant first-half volley helped Watford earn a fourth consecutive point on the road in the 2022/23 Championship, with a hard-fought encounter at Rotherham United finishing 1-1.

Richard Wood snatched the lead for the hosts just moments into the contest with a well-taken header, but Bayo grabbed his second in as many matches shortly after the half-hour mark by spectacularly finshing off Ken Sema’s cross.

The game at the New York Stadium was open and end-to-end for large parts, with João Pedro chief among the threats to the Millers’ goal, but neither side was able to claim all three points despite a feast of opportunities.

Having extended their unbeaten record on their travels the Golden Boys remain in the play-off places, with a home clash against Reading next up in a week’s time (Saturday September 10, 3pm KO).

Head Coach Rob Edwards made two changes to the XI that had started the dramatic 2-1 win over Middlesbrough in midweek, with that night’s match-winner Bayo replacing the injured Ismaïla Sarr, and Kortney Hause coming in for his full debut.

But Watford found themselves on the back foot within the first two minutes of the match, with home skipper Wood heading past Daniel Bachmann after the Hornets failed to clear their lines from a free-kick.

João Pedro spearheaded the Golden Boys’ immediate response though, with the Brazilian youngster, Hassane Kamara and Bayo all threatening in the box though ultimately without reward.

With their tails up Rotherham were hungry to add to their tally and the end-to-end action required Kamara and Hause to be on hand to make vital blocks, but the home backline had to be alert to get in the way of a fizzing Hamza Choudhury shot that looked to be heading on target.

Bachmann comfortably palmed away a Cohen Bramall free-kick in the 13th minute, before a period of hard tackles and long balls saw tensions rise among the New York Stadium crowd.

Conor Washington sent a tame shot wide of the mark for the Millers midway through the half, and then back at the other end Edo Kayembe’s attempted cross sailed high and wide past Viktor Johansson’s upright.

A marauding run by João Pedro saw him beat a string of home defenders before being hauled down, but it wasn’t long before Watford were level when Bayo brilliantly connected with Sema’s ball from the left to volley in the equaliser in the 33rd minute.

Having struck level, Edwards’ charges were now enjoying the majority of possession, and a promising counter-attack saw Bayo pick out João Pedro at the back post but the latter’s touch under pressure was just too strong.

The first clear-cut chance after the interval fell to Rotherham, with veteran defender Lee Peltier’s shot being deflected out for a corner, but then Yáser Asprilla forced a good stop from Johansson at point-blank range following some João Pedro trickery.

Bachmann kept his gloves warm by getting a strong hand to an awkward Daniel Barlaser effort from distance, and Asprilla then tried his luck again for Watford but shot over four minutes shy of the hour.

Appeals for a penalty from the 1,804-strong Watford support were waved away by referee Leigh Doughty after João Pedro was felled in the box, before a floated cross from the away No.10 bounced onto the post with Bayo and substitute Mario Gaspar lurking.

Keinan Davis had been introduced off the bench in the 67th minute, and the Aston Villa loanee didn’t take long to make his presence known with a blocked shot from Johansson’s right.

With the clock ticking towards full-time the Hornets started to ramp up the pressure, and after a succession of corners came to nothing, Kayembe sent a free-kick into the Rotherham wall from a dangerous position.

Five minutes of stoppage time were added to the 90, but the Millers cleverly ran down the clock to frustrate Watford and keep the scores level.