Millwall End Watford Home Streak With Statement Win

On a crisp January evening at Vicarage Road, Millwall delivered a statement performance, dispatching promotion rivals Watford 2-0 and halting the Hornets’ impressive home run. The match, held on Graham Taylor Matchday, was packed with drama, a touch of controversy, and the kind of grit that keeps Championship football so captivating.

Returning to the starting lineup after more than a month sidelined with a calf injury, Casper De Norre’s presence in midfield set the tone early for the visitors. De Norre, partnering Billy Mitchell, helped anchor a Millwall side that looked determined from the outset. Alfie Doughty, typically a midfield presence, slotted in at left-back, reflecting manager Alex Neil’s tactical flexibility. The Lions’ 4-2-3-1 formation saw Max Crocombe between the sticks, with a back four of Crama, Taylor, Cooper, and Doughty. Ahead of De Norre and Mitchell, the attacking trio of Azeez, Neghli, and Ballo supported lone striker Ivanovic.

For Millwall, the return of Luke Cundle and Josh Coburn to the match-day squad added further depth. Cundle, out for eight weeks with a shoulder injury, and Coburn, fresh from scoring on his return against Burnley in the FA Cup, were both named among the substitutes. The bench brimmed with options: Evans, McNamara, Sturge, Langstaff, Leonard, Coburn, Emakhu, Cundle, and Bangura-Williams.

The opening forty-five minutes were a chess match, with Millwall carving out the better opportunities. Doughty nearly broke the deadlock, unleashing a fierce effort that sailed just over the bar. The visitors’ intensity unsettled Watford, who struggled to find rhythm in front of their home fans. The first half’s most bizarre moment arrived when a ballboy darted onto the pitch, intercepting a wayward De Norre shot before it could go out for a throw-in. Referee Ruebyn Ricardo, after a brief consultation with his assistants and the players, opted for a drop ball in the corner, leading to a Watford goal kick. The incident left both sets of supporters scratching their heads and injected a dose of unpredictability into proceedings.

Watford, for their part, finally registered a shot in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time, as James Abankwah’s header drifted wide of Crocombe’s post. The Hornets had been riding a wave of momentum—four straight Championship wins and an unbeaten home record stretching back to September—but Millwall’s discipline and work rate kept them at bay. The home side’s improvement after the interval was evident, pressing higher and testing Millwall’s defensive mettle.

Yet it was the visitors who continued to threaten. Macaulay Langstaff, introduced at half-time, nearly made an instant impact, heading over from point-blank range after a pinpoint cross by Azeez. Moments later, Millwall defender Tristan Crama found himself beyond Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik from a corner, only for the Hornets’ defense to scramble the ball clear. Selvik was called into action again, parrying efforts from Marc Bola and Tom Ince to keep the score level.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 69th minute. Doughty, showing his versatility on the left, delivered a high cross into the box. Crama rose above the pack, flicking the ball down to Femi Azeez, who calmly slotted it along the turf and into the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season. The away end erupted, sensing that the breakthrough could prove decisive against a Watford side that had looked increasingly vulnerable.

With the Hornets pushing forward in search of an equalizer, space began to open up for Millwall on the counter. The visitors seized their chance with nine minutes remaining. Camiel Neghli, who had been industrious all night, intercepted a loose ball in midfield and threaded a perfect pass through the heart of the Watford defense. Josh Coburn, only recently returned from a quad injury that had kept him out since October, latched onto the pass, surged clear, and finished low into the bottom corner—his second Championship goal of the season and third in all competitions. Coburn’s clinical strike capped a remarkable comeback run for the former Middlesbrough man, who now boasts two goals in two games since his return.

The closing stages saw tempers flare as both sets of players battled for every inch, but Millwall’s composure held firm. Alex Neil, celebrating his 50th match in charge, orchestrated his side expertly from the touchline. "It’s a fantastic milestone, but the real credit goes to the players for the way they’ve responded after a tough spell before Christmas," Neil said post-match, according to BBC Sport. The victory lifted Millwall to fourth in the Championship table, underscoring their resurgence and extending their unbeaten league run to five matches.

For Watford, the defeat was a bitter pill. Their four-match league winning streak came to an abrupt halt, and the loss marked only their second at Vicarage Road in the Championship this season. On a day meant to honor Graham Taylor, the Hornets’ legendary former manager, the hosts were unable to muster the attacking verve that had propelled them up the table in recent weeks.

Despite the setback, Watford remain very much in the playoff hunt, but the nature of this defeat—being outplayed for long stretches and failing to capitalize on home advantage—will be a concern for manager Valérien Ismaël. The Hornets will need to regroup quickly with a tough run of fixtures ahead.

Millwall, meanwhile, will take heart from the return of key players and the form of their frontline. Azeez’s seventh goal of the campaign and Coburn’s sharp finishing offer hope that the Lions can maintain their momentum in the race for promotion. The defensive solidity shown at Vicarage Road, coupled with the midfield steel provided by De Norre and Mitchell, bodes well for the challenges that lie ahead.

As the final whistle sounded, the Millwall faithful celebrated a rare and well-earned away win. The Lions’ resilience and tactical discipline proved too much for Watford, whose fortress at Vicarage Road was finally breached. With the Championship table as tight as ever, both teams know that every point—and every performance—will count as the season enters its decisive phase.