Millwall FC vs Watford FC Preview
Millwall will host Watford at the Den in their opening Championship game. Both teams hope to kick on from last year after major ups and downs. It’s a new campaign with big expectations from both sides.
The Lions flirted with relegation but ultimately finished comfortably in the table. Neil Harris returned to the side and worked his magic. Watford flattered to deceive in the Championship but has tried to rebuild this summer. They hope to return to the Premier League at the second attempt.
It’s always tough to call Championship games on opening day. Managers are still active in the transfer market and don’t know their strongest lineups. Kickoff is at 12.30 pm on Saturday, August 10th in London.
Millwall FC vs Watford FC Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Millwall and Watford know each other very well. These London rivals have played each other many times. However, the Lions have enjoyed more recent success in this rivalry. They’ve won three and only lost one of their last six meetings.
Zian Flemming’s free kick separated these teams when they faced each other in March. This was a gritty performance that showed what Millwall is about. Their fans provided a hostile atmosphere with the players living up to expectations. This was also Harris’ first match at the Den since his return.
The Lions have played seven preseason games this summer with only two wins. This won’t concern fans too much because it’s all about getting fit. Their most recent match was a 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Southampton. They were competitive against Premier League opponents, so it isn’t a shocking result.
It’s better to look at how they finished last season. Neil Harris guided Millwall to five straight victories as they ended their campaign on a high. The manager is in his second spell in charge of the club and fans hope they can kick on. They would like to see more goals but have no complaints about the number of clean sheets since Harris returned.
Watford finished two places below Millwall in 15th. They only won one of their last five Championship games with two draws and two losses. Like Millwall, they’ve also lost five of their seven preseason matches. This doesn’t mean much, but it’s not inspiring for their fanbase.
Now former midfielder Tom Cleverley is their full-time manager after initially taking the job on an interim basis. He replaced Valerien Ismael in March. Cleverley is a fan-favourite, but it’s a big ask to bring the club back to the promised land.
Ismael Kone is a massive departure for Watford. Marseille paid big money for the Canada international. The Hornets have opted to replace him with a mixture of old and new. They brought back Moussa Sissoko for his second spell with the club. Meanwhile, they also signed the exciting Irish youngster Rocco Vatta from Celtic.
However, it’s going to be very difficult for either of these players to fill Kone’s shoes immediately. There’s a feeling that this Watford team lacks quality. There’s still time for them to fix this before the end of the transfer window. But they look vulnerable before this game against Millwall.
Meanwhile, the Lions have been selective in the transfer market. Denmark’s Lukas Jensen arrives on a free transfer after impressing between the sticks for Lincoln City. The goalkeeper wants to show that he’s capable of the step up to the Championship. Japhet Tanganga is another key signing. However, the former Spurs man is serving a suspension this weekend.
Tom Bradshaw and Macaulay Langstaff are Harris’s two main strikers. The manager likes to play a traditional 4-4-2 formation. This classic system is working for Millwall, and he won’t want to fix what isn’t broken.
Cleverley has selected a three-man defence throughout Watford’s preseason. It’s a progressive style of play, but there’s been so much upheaval for the Hornets. He’s their fifth manager since their relegation and it wouldn’t shock anybody if he didn’t survive the season.
This will be a fascinating clash because these teams are in transition. It’s extremely difficult to know where Watford is under Cleverley right now. There’s a more positive feeling coming out of the Millwall camp.
One bright light for Watford is Giorgi Chakvetadze. The Georgian played in each of his nation’s four games at the Euro 2024 and will return to London on a high. He needs to score more goals, but his all-round play is effective.
Millwall FC vs Watford FC Predictions
Predicted Score: Millwall 2 – 1 Watford
Our soccer prediction is for Millwall to win this Championship game. The Lions finished last season on a high so they have momentum. Meanwhile, they’ve retained the bulk of their squad without losing key players. Alex Mitchell and Bartosz Białkowski are their only senior departures before this clash.
Watford is rebuilding their squad, and they still appear light in midfield. It remains to be seen if they do more business before the end of this transfer window. They also have a less experienced manager, which could result in less money being spent.
Neil Harris knows exactly how he wants his team to play. It’s tough to break them down and his two strikers will put pressure on Watford’s defence. Meanwhile, The Den is always a challenge for visiting sides as the fans provide a ferocious environment.
The only serious issue for Millwall is that they’re missing Tanganga and have several injury doubts. Watford may exploit their absentees and sneak a morale-boosting win. Millwall starts this game as a slight favourite, but you should check the live betting odds in case there’s a red card or early goal.
With a tried and tested manager at the helm, we predict Millwall will win this game 2-1. Watford hopes they have turned a leaf since the disaster of last season. However, the revolving door of managers seems likely to continue unless Cleverly can secure some early results.
💭 Neil Harris' thoughts following #Millwall's pre-season match against @SouthamptonFC. pic.twitter.com/quI7kbRTMB
— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) August 3, 2024
Millwall FC vs Watford FC Betting Tips
The Lions are the favourites for winning this Championship game against Watford. Betting on Millwall seems like the sensible option because of their home advantage and form. It’s 5/4 for them to emerge as outright victors. A €10 stake would make €22.50 if successful.
Meanwhile, Watford is a 17/8 underdog. This isn’t a shock because they had a horrible ending to last season. Nobody is sure what Tom Cleverley is going to do, and they’ve lost a couple of big names. This game could be too early for them to be at their best.
Betting on soccer offers many markets. Check out over-under betting for this match as this could be a more profitable option. You can wager on the number of goals and the amount of cards. Another option is a correct score prediction. We think Millwall will win 2-1 with odds worth 8/1 for this scoreline.
Championship soccer predictions are always tough at the start of a season. A draw could be a good option at 23/10. You could also bet on the first goalscorer? Chakvetadze will probably lead the line for Watford, but he isn’t the most prolific forward. Betting on Millwall’s Langstaff may be a better option. This game is likely to have multiple set pieces, so it could also be worth picking a defender to score.
Another option is to bet on the Championship winner before the season starts. Both teams are outsiders to be champions or even secure promotion. Watford’s fans have big ambitions, but it’s 8/1 for their team to go up. Meanwhile, it’s even less likely for Millwall. They’re currently 12/1 to reach the Premier League on our sports betting platform.
The Player Specials offer many lucrative opportunities. Macaulay Langstaff is currently 33/1 to be the Championship’s top scorer this season. Millwall fans may want to use Novibet’s welcome bonus for this market. They can back the forward with no extra risk for a potentially massive profit.
Millwall FC Team News and Predicted Lineup
Neil Harris has several injury problems ahead of this weekend. Zian Flemming missed their final friendly against Southampton and is a doubt for this opener. Murray Wallace is another likely absentee. Meanwhile, Tanganga is also out of action because of a suspension. He’ll miss the first three games of the season. Alfie Massey may settle for a place on the bench after impressing in recent friendlies.
- Predicted Lineup: Jensen, McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Bryan, Esse, Saville, De Norre, Honeyman, Bradshaw, and Langstaff.
Watford FC Team News and Predicted Lineup
Tom Cleverley is still figuring out his best starting XI after losing Kone and potentially Yaser Asprilla. Moussa Sissoko will captain the team after returning from Ligue 1. However, Rocco Vatta will settle for a place on the bench. Chakvetadze will lead the line while Austria’s Daniel Bachmann will continue in goal.
- Predicted Lineup: Bachmann, Sierralta, Porteous, Pollock, Andrews, Kayembe, Dele-Bashiru, Ngakia, Sissoko, Bayo, and Chakvetadze.
