Millwall vs Watford Player Ratings: The Hornets score last-gasp winner

The Championship kicked off today for the 2024/25 season with all it’s twists and turns. Millwall and Watford opened their accounts at The Den in what was a thrilling encounter. Both the sides showed their tributes to the late Matija Sarkic, the Millwall keeper who tragically lost his life earlier this summer before kickoff.

Millwall had done relatively well last season and will look to kick on further this season. They have made 4 signings so far, including that of former Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga. However, the fans are demanding a few more signings especially in attack.

Watford fans are comparatively much less optimistic about their season. It’s hard to believe they were in the Premier League not too long ago. They have already made 7 signings, including a couple of quite exciting youngsters.

Watford might be one of the side being primed for relegation from the Championship this season, but they began the game with a bang. Their fast start pushed Millwall to the back foot from the very start. However the goal that opened the floodgates was a peculiar one with Edo Kayembe’s corner going straight in thanks to some confused defending from the Lions. Watford would go 2-0 up in the second half thanks to an absolute peach of a freekick from Giorgi Chakvetadze.

This seemingly enthused the home team and backed by a few solid substitutions, they fought back. A massive error by Francisco Sierralta gave Duncan Watmore a tap in and Millwall a chance to claw back into the game. And they did exactly that, once again through Watmore, who equalised through a low finish past Daniel Bachmann in the Watford goal. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the game was over, given that this equaliser came in the 88th minute. However that wasn’t to be as Mileta Rajovic came off the bench to score a 90th minute goal and win it for the away side.

Here are the ratings from this exciting game.

Millwall

Goalkeeper

Lukas Jensen: 3/10. Should have a lot better for the first goal but the second just left him powerless. Needs to impose himself more.

Defenders

Ryan Leonard: 7/10. Saw a lot of the ball and did well going forward. Was one of Millwall’s main progressive options. Picked up a late yellow card.

Jake Cooper: 6/10. Was decent, nothing much to write home about. Tried to go long too often.

Shaun Hutchinson: 6/10. Same as Cooper. Struggled a little against Chakvetadze.

Joe Bryan: 6/10. Perhaps not as effective as usual. Created a solitary chance. Booked late on.

Midfielders

George Saville: 7/10. Good outing from him. Hit the post from close range and should have scored. Also picked up a late assist.

Casper De Norre: 5/10. Not at his usual best today. Kept things ticking but got played around way too easily.

Romain Esse: 4/10. Looked lost. Kept trying things but failed to make it work. Taken off at the hour mark.

George Honeyman: 7/10. Also hit the woodwork from a position where he should have scored. Looked bright whenever he had the ball.

Duncan Watmore: 9/10. Two goals from him, almost managed to take a point off this game. Nearly everything good from Millwall had him involved.

Forwards

Tom Bradshaw: 6/10. Ineffective outing for Bradshaw. Was the target of a lot of long balls but failed to make much of them.

Subs: Dan McNamara – 5/10
Kevin Nisbet – 5/10
Macaulay Langstaff – 6/10
Aidomo Emakhu – 7/10

Watford

Goalkeeper

Daniel Bachmann – 6/10. Not his best outing, especially with ball at feet. Made a crucial save to deny Watmore in the end.

Defenders

Francisco Sierralta – 6/10. Very solid all game. Would have had a much higher rating had his poor clearance not gifted Millwall their first goal.

Ryan Porteous – 6/10. Nothing too much to write about. Kept things ticking although looked shaky at times.

Matthew Pollock – 7/10. Very good match from the 22 year old. Won a match high 13 duels.

Midfielders

Jeremy Ngakia – 5/10. Tried taking his man on a few times but largely ineffective. Taken off with a potential injury.

Tom Dele-Bashiru – 6/10. Average outing overall for him, although it was his deflected effort which was eventually turned in for the winner.

Edo Kayembe -8/10. Opened the scoring directly from a corner. Energetic but didn’t get involved much in possession. Picked up a yellow.

Ryan Andrews – 5/10. The youngster was barely involved in the proceedings. Had the least touches of anyone to play the entire 90.

Giorgi Chakvetadze – 9/10. Best player on the pitch. Looked very threatening all game and scored an absolute belter of a freekick.

Moussa Sissoko – 7/10. Sharp outing from the former Spurs man. Still looks like he has the legs and the engine.

Forwards

Vakoun Bayo – 5/10. Got a few nice chest downs but that was about it. Largely ineffective while he was on the pitch.

Subs:
Mileta Rajovic – 9/10. Came off the bench late on to score the winner.
Ken Sema – 6/10
Thomas Ince – 5/10