Watford 1 Millwall 0 – Ismaila Sarr penalty seals promotion for home side

BY KAI BENNETT

Watford edged past Millwall in a tightly-contested game to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The Lions may feel that they were unlucky to walk away with nothing because of the constant pressure they applied.

Watford started strongly and won a penalty after Billy Mitchell was adjudged to have fouled Ismaila Sarr and it was the latter who got up and slotted home from 12 yards to give the hosts the lead after 11 minutes.

Millwall weathered the storm after Watford’s opener and started to rally. Mason Bennett’s cushion header gave Tom Bradshaw the chance to level the score but the strikerl directed his shot just wide of the post.

Five minutes later, Daniel Bachmann produced a superb double save. Jed Wallace teed up Mitchell, whose shot looked destined for the far corner but the Watford stopper pulled off an excellent save and just seconds later he was on hand to push Bennett’s strike just over the bar.

The Lions went close again soon after the restart. Bradshaw blazed over the bar from close range after being picked out by Wallace. Millwall were causing Watford a few problems and Bradshaw’s deflected header was cleared off the line just after the hour mark with Bachmann scrambling to his right.

Watford thought they had doubled their lead in the 70th minute after an incisive pass from Nathaniel Chalobah was finished off by Ken Sema but it was ruled out for offside.

Gary Rowett’s side continued to search for an equaliser but came up short and remain 11th in the Championship.