Millwall vs Watford predictions: Lions to make a winning start
- Millwall collected 26 points from the last 39 to end the 2023-24 season
- Watford have won just one of their last eight league matches
- Recommended bet: Millwall to win
Millwall open up their 2024-25 Championship campaign with a clash against Watford at The Den on Saturday and the hosts look good value to make a winning start.
The Lions were in grave danger of being relegated last season after slipping to 21st in the table in February, just one point above the bottom three, but Harris returned for his second spell as manager to steer the club to a 13th-place finish.
Team news
Millwall's Japhet Tanganga serves the first of a three-game ban for the red card he picked up in the final game of last season, while Adam Mayor and goalkeeper Connal Trueman are sidelined after being ruled out for two months in July.
There are doubts over both Zian Flemming and Billy Mitchell, who missed last weekend's friendly against Southampton, but summer signing Macaulay Langstaff could be handed his debut.
Watford are sweating over the fitness of Wesley Hoedt, who picked up an injury against Wycombe last month, while Rocco Vata missed the friendly against Brentford last time out due to illness and is a doubt.
Chile international Francisco Sierralta and midfielder Ken Sema both featured against the Bees and are expected to play a part in this contest.
The stats
Harris was appointed as Millwall manager for the second time in February this year and he guided his side to eight wins, two draws and three losses.
The Lions collected 26 points from the last 39 on offer to climb away from relegation trouble and they ended last season on a five-game winning streak, beating Leicester, Cardiff, Sunderland, Plymouth and Swansea.
Watford won just one of their last eight league games, finishing two places and three points below Millwall, while the Hornets have failed to win any of their last four away assignments.
Prediction
Harris made an instant impact on his return to The Den last season, pulling the club away from relegation trouble, so there will be genuine hopes of a play-off push in this campaign.
Millwall have brought in striker Langstaff, who scored 71 goals from 91 appearances for Notts County and he could be a great addition if he can replicate that scoring form at Championship level.
There looks to be stability for the Lions now Harris is at the helm, but the same cannot be said of Watford, who made the choice to appoint the inexperienced Tom Cleverley permanently.
There is always lots of pressure on a manager when it comes to the Hornets, who have a habit of chopping and changing in the dugout and a slow start could spell disaster for the ex-midfielder.
Millwall are usually a tough nut to crack on home soil and they have more momentum heading into this opening fixture.
