REPORT: Millwall 3-0 Watford - Southwark News (2024)

TOM Bradshaw’s first-half hat-trick saw Millwall pick up their third successive win by beating Watford 3-0 at The Den.

The Lions took the lead after just seven minutes when the 30-year-old collected a loose ball, rifling it into the back of the net from the left side of the box.

19 minutes later, he grabbed his second goal after Mason Bennett set him up from a free-kick, allowing the former Welsh international to fire home from point-blank range.

Not satisfied with two goals, Bradshaw bagged his hat-trick after just 33 minutes, converting from the centre of the box to wrap up the win for Millwall in the first half of the game. They kept the Hornets at arm’s length throughout, securing a comfortable win.

Match details

Millwall took no time at all to launch their offensive against Watford, scoring the opening goal of the game after just seven minutes. A long ball into the box bounced over the Hornets’ back line, catching everyone off guard except for Tom Bradshaw, who rushed into the box down the left. He took a touch before rifling a perfect shot into the back of the net to give the Lions the lead after eight minutes.

Gary Rowett’s men continued their charge, although it was disrupted by a lengthy injury to Imran Louza, who was later stretchered off the pitch. With ten men, Watford almost conceded again as Jake Cooper dinked the crossbar from a corner. Referee David Webb awarded another one to the hosts, although they weren’t able to capitalise.

Millwall kept pushing as the Hornets became frustrated, with Keinan Davis picking up an early yellow card for a cynical foul on Danny McNamara. The Lions kept pushing for their second goal, and with 26 minutes on the clock, they found it.

The hosts won a free-kick in the opposition half, which was whipped into the box and headed on by Cooper into the path of Mason Bennett, squaring the ball from the left flank into the path of Bradshaw, who fired home from close range.

Six minutes later, he scored his hat-trick, sealing a first-half thrashing of one of the Championship’s promotion favourites. Watford failed to clear another free-kick into the box, which Bradshaw slotted into the back of the net after the ball pinballed around the box.

Slaven Bili? made a double substitution at at half-time, bringing on Joao Pedro and Samuel Kalu, a move that sparked the visitors into life somewhat. However, they were afforded little time on the ball, and their periods of possession didn’t see them threaten in the final third. Yaser Asprilla was given a chance to score from distance, but blazed his shot into the top tier of the away end.

Substitute Samuel Kalu was presented with a golden chance to get Watford back into the game after he won the ball high up the pitch. His shot was blocked by Danny McNamara, with the Hornets winning a corner that they unsurprisingly wasted.

Benik Afobe was given the chance to wrap up the win with seven minutes remaining after he was played into the box by Callum Styles, but the striker fired wide from an incredibly tight angle, keeping the scoreline at 3-0. Watford pushed for a later consolation goal, but couldn’t find a way through the Lions’ back line.

Millwall: 4-2-3-1:Long; McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Malone; Mitchell, Saville; Voglsammer, Flemming, Bennett; Bradshaw

Watford: 4-2-3-1: Bachmann; Gosling, Pollock, Troost-Ekong, Kamara; Choudhury, Louza; Sems, Asprilla, Sarr; Davis

Takeaways

The Tom Bradshaw Show

Bradshaw has been given chance after chance to find the back of the net this season, and he was unable to take any of them up until Millwall’s 2-1 win at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

Then, out of nowhere, he caught on fire. A first-half hat-trick to seal a crucial win for the Lions.

Not something you see too often in the Championship, never mind at The Den.

Defensive resilience once again

Watford were, truthfully, absolutely atrocious in SE16 on Wednesday evening. It wouldn’t be hard to argue that they were the worst team that Millwall have faced so far this season.

Nonetheless, the Lions’ back line, which was missing Murray Wallace, totally shut out one of the strongest attacking lineups in the league. Keinan Davis was bullied, Ismaila Sarr hardly touched the ball, and substitute Joao Pedro was working off scraps from the second he came on.

The Lions’ back line looks back to what we’ve become accustomed to in recent years.

The madness of the Championship

Millwall had a dire start to the season, but after Wednesday’s 3-0 win against Watford, they moved up to eighth in the Championship table.

Ahead of Saturday’s match against West Brom, the Lions sit just one point off Norwich in the final play-off spot.

The second tier of English football is truly incredible.

Photo: Millwall FC