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Football

Sky Bet Championship: Millwall FC 3-0 Watford FC

Watford were defeated 3-0 by Millwall thanks to Tom Bradshaw’s hat-trick in the first half, with the home side’s aggressive approach in attack coming off in spectacular fashion under the lights at The Den.

Bradshaw scored the first of three goals provoked by long balls over the top two minutes shy of the 10-minute mark, before tripling his total with two more goals before the interval.

stakeWith the introduction of Joo Pedro and Samuel Kalu, Watford showed more purpose in the second half, but without reward, as Gary Rowett’s Lions held on for a comfortable win with a clean sheet.

After failing to win consecutive games for the first time this season, the Hornets drop to 15th in the Sky Bet Championship standings with 15 games played, ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated home match against local rivals Luton Town on October 23.

Head Coach Slaven Bili made one change to the starting lineup that defeated Norwich City the previous week, with Mattie Pollock making his maiden Championship start in lieu of Craig Cathcart, who was rested as a precaution after returning from injury.

Millwall signalled their purpose with a long ball forward targeted for Jake Cooper, and after the Hornets’ skipper-for-the-night William Troost-Ekong remained cool to help snuff out the threat, the Hornets got their foot on the ball for the first time.

Ismala Sarr opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a slick nutmeg, before Keinan Davis had the game’s first genuine chance seconds later, his effort bouncing up and into George Long’s arms following some nice link-up play with Yáser Asprilla.

However, the Hornets were swiftly on the back foot, with a misjudged Pollock header creating an opportunity for home attacker Bradshaw, who pounced onto the loose ball and blasted home for 1-0 with just seven minutes gone.

With the momentum in their favour, the Lions continued to put pressure on Watford, and goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann was called into action at the quarter-hour mark to cope with a run of high balls into his area.

Imrân Louza was replaced by Edo Kayembe after failing to shrug off an ankle injury for the Hornets, before Sarr fired off target from the corner of the box in a rare away attack.

Long passes deep into Watford territory, though, were causing Bili’s side constant difficulties, and Bradshaw made it 2-0 in the 26th minute from close range, tapping home Mason Bennett’s cut-back after Cooper’s original flick-on.

Seven minutes later, another high ball was not handled with, Cooper flicked on again, and the Millwall No.9 controlled, turned, and shot past Bachmann to make it three for Bradshaw and his club.

As Watford sought to respond immediately after the restart, Davis struck well wide of the hosts’ left-hand post, but Cooper went close to a fourth for Millwall from a Ziem Flemming throw as the clock approached half-time.

After the break, Bili introduced Joo Pedro and Kalu in place of Hamza Choudhury and Ken Sema, and Watford saw penalty demands rejected by referee David Webb when Sarr went down under a push from Scott Malone.

With Millwall in command and appearing content to sit back and allow Watford have possession, the visitors failed to generate any real chances, though Kalu sometimes looked lively when in possession.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, Vakoun Bayo replaced Davis as the newest forward addition to the action, but it was the home side who came close to scoring another goal when Benik Afobe flashed an effort high and wide late on.

In the waning minutes of the game, Kalu struck the post before a Pollock header forced Long into action, but Watford were unable to score before the final whistle.

Kajal S

Kajal S

kajal

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