Hornets Come From Behind To Claim First Home Win

Watford recorded their first home win of the season after battling back from a goal behind to beat Millwall 2-1 in an enthralling second half performance.

Watford made one change going into the game with Rene Gilmartin replacing Scott Loach in goal after the latter’s errors in recent weeks. Millwall brought in Tony Craig and emergency-loan signing Brian Howard.

Watford started on the front foot keeping possession nicely but created little on goal to trouble keeper David Forde. The closest Watford came was a Mark Yeates overhead kick from 8 yards out following a long throw, the ball going inches over the top.

The Hornets long throws caused problems for the Millwall defence all night and another Dickinson delivery was helped on by a Millwall head at the near post and John Eustace came sliding in but was denied by Forde.

Millwall did manage to get the ball in the net after half an hour but Danny N’Guessan’s header from a Brian Howard free kick was ruled out for offside.

Half Time 0-0

Second Half

The Hornets continued to dominate in the early stages of the second half. Mark Yeates fired over the crossbar following a nice piece of skill. John Eustace also had an effort go wide when he broke from midfield and found space on the edge of the box.

Millwall took the lead totally against the run of play in a fare foray into the Watford half. Liam Trotter and Liam Feeney combined on the left hand side with Feeney taking the ball towards the goal line before crossing from just inside the area. His looping effort deceived Gilmartin and hit the inside of the post and went in.

Watford went immediately on the attack with Jonathan Hogg shooting wide from distance before firing straight at Forde with an effort from the edge of the box.

Watford drew level with a cracking 20-yard strike from Carl Dickinson. After a Yeates corner had been cleared Hogg challenged for the ball on the edge of the area with the ball rebounding to the left back who struck the ball hard and low through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner.

With their tails up Watford went in search of a winner and found it five minutes from time. Joe Garner challenged Darren Ward for a header on the edge of the box and when two Millwall defenders got in each others way when trying to clear the knock-down Craig Forsyth found himself free 10 yards out and fired low under David Forde for the winner.

Final Score
Watford 2-1 Millwall

Watford: Gilmartin, Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor, Dickinson, Yeates (Deeney), Hogg, Eustace, Forsyth, Garner, Sordell (Iwelumo)

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Robinson, Ward, Craig, Henry, Abdou (Marquis), Howard, Feeney, Trotter, N’Guessan (Bouazza)