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Preview: Millwall vs. Watford - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship clash between Millwall and Watford, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Millwall will host Watford in the Championship on Tuesday evening hoping to bounce back from Saturday's 3-0 loss at home to Bristol City in the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, Watford have put together a good run of form and are looking to secure their fourth successive league victory.


Match preview

Millwall manager Gary Rowett pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Millwall's time in the FA Cup came to an end last weekend as they were comfortably beaten by Bristol City, exiting the competition in the fourth round.

With one eye on a busy schedule of league action, Millwall boss Gary Rowett made eight changes to his starting lineup that secured three points at Huddersfield Town in midweek, but Rowett accepted that his team selection gamble did not pay dividends and that "some players haven't taken their opportunity."

The Lions now turn their attention back to the Championship, where they find themselves in midtable, nine points clear of the relegation zone and 12 points behind the top six.

Millwall's last meeting with Watford was a 1-0 home victory in the FA Cup back in January 2017, although they failed to win any of the previous four league meetings against them.

The Lions have struggled at The Den all season, having won the fewest home matches in the division with the 2-0 victory against Luton Town in October their only league triumph so far this season.

With three of their next four league games to be played at home, claiming a victory on Tuesday could provide a massive boost for Rowett's men heading into February.

Watford's Troy Deeney in action with Stoke City's Nathan Collins in the Championship on January 22, 2021© Reuters

Watford secured their third successive league victory last Friday as they beat an out-of-form Stoke City side 2-1 away from home.

Head coach Xisco was delighted with Troy Deeney's "perfect" performance, as his goal and assist helped the Hornets climb to third in the table, level on points with Swansea City in second place.

Watford have the best home record in the division with nine wins from 12 matches played at Vicarage Road, but they head to Millwall having won only three of their 12 Championship away games.

The Hornets have a good record against the Lions, having won seven of their last 10 league meetings against them, although their last league visit was during the 2014-15 campaign.

Securing another win on the road would see them move into second place, four points behind leaders Norwich City, who would have a game in hand.

Millwall Championship form: WDLDLW
Millwall form (all competitions): LWDLWL

Watford Championship form: LWLWWW
Watford form (all competitions): WLLWWW


Team News

Watford's Troy Deeney celebrates scoring against Barnsley on January 19, 2021© Reuters

Millwall boss Rowett is likely to revert to a similar side that played against Huddersfield on Wednesday.

Strikers Matt Smith and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson are likely to start in attack, while goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, left-back Scott Malone, midfielder Ryan Woods and winger Jed Wallace are among the players considered for a recall.

Winger Connor Mahoney is the only injury concern for the Lions, who is likely to miss out despite his return to training.

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a broken finger, which will likely see Daniel Bachmann keep his place in goal.

Danish winger Philip Zinckernagel, who came off the bench against Stoke, is pushing for his first Championship start of the season.

Midfielder Will Hughes, who has started the last two matches, could keep his place in the starting lineup alongside Nathaniel Chalobah.

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski; Cooper, Hutchinson, Pearce; McNamara, Woods, Leonard, Malone; Wallace; Bodvarsson, Smith

Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Masina; Zinckernagel, Hughes, Chalobah, Sarr; Pedro, Deeney


SM words green background

We say: Millwall 0-2 Watford

Even though Millwall are set to recall a number of first-team regulars to their side, the Hornets are in fine form at the moment and should have enough quality to claim three points on Tuesday against a team with a poor home record.


ID:431950:cQx

How you voted: Millwall vs Watford

Millwall
11.2%
Draw
12.9%
Watford
75.9%
116
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Watford manager Xisco Munoz pictured on January 2, 2021
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Xisco Munoz hails "perfect" Troy Deeney as Watford win at Stoke
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich28167535231255
2Brentford27159352272554
3Swansea CitySwansea27158435152053
4Reading27146740291148
5Watford28139631201148
6Bournemouth28129743281545
7Middlesbrough28117103128340
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn271161041291239
9Stoke CityStoke2891273229339
10Bristol City28123132933-439
11Preston North EndPreston28113143236-436
12Barnsley27106112934-536
13Millwall2871472626035
14Cardiff CityCardiff2797113531434
15Luton TownLuton2797112229-734
16Queens Park RangersQPR2789102632-633
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2896133139-833
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2888122530-532
19Coventry CityCoventry28710112637-1131
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham2685133236-429
21Derby CountyDerby2777131728-1128
22Birmingham CityBirmingham28610122134-1328
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2787121930-1125
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2637161845-2716

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