Today’s match promises to be an interesting one with two teams desperate for points for differing reasons.
Ian Holloway’s Millwall find themselves two points adrift of safety in 22nd place, having played two more games than 21st placed Charlton.
Holloway, whose Crystal Palace beat the Hornets at Wembley in the playoff final last May, will need to make home form count for something in the coming weeks if his side is to remain in the Championship.
After two important away wins against Nottingham Forest and Wigan, Millwall will be looking to replicate such form at home, where they have not won since January 18.
Watford will hope that the recent win away at Sheffield Wednesday is not a blip on an otherwise extremely poor run of away form, having previously not taken three points away from Vicarage Road since early October 2013.
Beppe Sannino’s men will be hoping to win as many games as possible in their remaining six fixtures, as without a significant number of victories the Hornets stand little or no chance of making the playoffs.
Watford sit in 12th place, seven points off sixth with a game in hand. It has been reported on Vital Watford on several occasions in the past couple of weeks that the playoffs are something of a ‘distant dream’, but should other results go the Hornets’ way, as they perhaps have done in recent weeks, the playoffs would suddenly become a more realistic possibility.
Vital Quotes:
Beppe Sannino, speaking to the the official site:
“The next match for us is very difficult away against a team who need the points.
“Millwall need the points, but Watford need points as well to finish the season as strongly as possible.”
“Our players have already showed to me good commitment, they have played in big stadium with an atmosphere.
“The players will be ready and they [the players] have to pay respect to our fans who follow us everywhere. Our target is to do as well as possible. We must be prepared for everything on Saturday.”
Millwall boss Ian Holloway, speaking to millwallfc.co.uk:
‘We’re back on our own patch and we have to use this to our advantage.
‘We will again be trying to play good football and get another vital win, knowing there is very little margin for error in terms of the points we can afford to drop.
‘I need [the fans] to help ease the pressure by keeping encouraging the boys. Our last two performances have been ‘fear free’ and that has been crucial. We need to be ‘fear free’ again on Saturday and if we are we can get another vital result against a team who are very capable of passing you off the pitch if you let them.
‘We still have a mountain to climb but we’ve now given ourselves a fighting chance of reaching that summit.’
Millwall Team News:
Lions manager Ian Holloway may only have to make one enforced change following Millwall’s Tuesday night win at Wigan. Ed Upson picked up his 10th yellow card of the season at the game at the DW Stadium and faces a two match ban. The official Millwall site suggests this opens the door for either Jimmy Abdou or Shaun Williams to return to the starting line-up.
Tuesday’s matchwinner Carlos Edwards, who was brought off halfway through the game at Wigan following injury, could feature against Watford.
Richard Chaplow and ex-Hornet Danny Shittu remain out injured.
Player to watch: Alan Dunne
In a team that is perhaps coming into form after a long run of bad results, one player that has returned to the side and helped bolster performances is one-club-man Alan Dunne.
The Irish centre half came back into the team against Nottingham Forest following a spell on the sidelines. He came back to captain the team, and has played a part in Millwall’s upturn in form.
Confidence and self-belief are hugely important when fighting a relegation battle, and Ian Holloway will look to Dunne to instill a winning mentality from the heart of the squad.
Dunne will be looking to keep Watford’s free-scoring Troy Deeney quiet, and this battle will be key to the outcome of today’s match.
Watford Team News:
Marco Cassetti will miss today’s game following his 10th booking of the season, picked up against Leeds midweek.
Cristian Battocchio’s knee injury, sustained against Burnley last Saturday, is not as serious as first feared, but the diminuitive Argentine-Italian will be out for at least another two weeks.
Another diminuitive Argentine-Italian, forward Fernando Forestieri, has recovered from a toe injury sustained several weeks ago away at Doncaster, and as such is available for selection.
Lloyd Doyley remains out, as does on-loan striker Park Chu-Young, with knee and toe injuries respectively.
Fitz Hall could make his return to the squad as he has now fully recovered from an Achilles injury.
Player to watch: Troy Deeney
Watford’s number nine is in a fine run of form, having netted 22 goals so far this season.
Deeney scored Watford’s third last time out against Leeds, making his recent tally eight goals in eight games.
Deeney’s strength up front, his willingness to open up the play in the final third as well as shoot, and his positive mentality on the pitch are all important factors going into this game.
Match Facts & Stats
Head-to-head
Watford won the earlier meeting between these two sides 4-0 at Vicarage Road in December.
Millwall have won only one of these two teams’ last seven meetings, drawing one and losing five. Their only win since 2006 was 1-0 at home last season.
The Lions have won only one of the last six meetings at the Den, drawing one and losing four.
Millwall
Ian Holloway’s side have won their last two games, after winning only two of their previous 21 games in all competitions.
The Lions have conceded 70 league goals so far this season – the most in the Championship.
Millwall have not won any of their last seven games at home, losing three. Their last win at the Den was 1-0 against Ipswich on 18 January.
Watford
The Hornets are unbeaten in their last four games, winning two.
They won their last away game 4-1 against Sheffield Wednesday on 29 March – their only win in their last 15 away games in all competitions.
Facts & Stats taken from BBC Sport.
