Happy Christmas but a far from jolly Boxing Day for Watford as they were outfought, out thought and surrendered meekly to Millwall at Vicarage Road.

Just as had been the case when the sides met at The Den in October, Millwall never let the Hornets settle, snapping into tackles and closing down space.

And yet again their direct, uncompromising style was something that Watford just never got to grips with, allowing the Lions to dominate to such an extent that they ended the game with 23 goal attempts.

Watford were not helped when Hasane Kamara was sent off seven minutes before the break, but even then it was of his own doing: the defender had followed in on the keeper at the end of an attack and, as he was jogging out of the box, Millwall’s McNamara tripped him.

He could have fallen over, he could have ignored it totally – but Kamara chose to turn round and shove the Millwall man with both hands in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground. Referee Mr Smith was only yards away and had the red card out by the time he got there.

It was Kamara’s third red card this calendar year for Watford, and as head coach Slaven Bilic admitted afterwards, it was impossible to defend such a reckless act.

Chasing Millwall with 10 men was an uneviable task, but to be fair the dye had already been cast: the away side were well on top when Kamara let the red mist take over.

To compound Watford’s misery, star man Joao Pedro limped off before half-time after taking a heavy tackle, and emerged from the dressing room after the break wearing an ankle boot and using crutches.

Bilic said it was too early to properly assess what looked like a ligament injury, but did admit it “didn’t look good”.

However, put red cards and injuries to one side: Watford just did not show up against Millwall for the second time this season and that was something that couldn’t be blamed on anything but themselves.

The Millwall fans ended the game chanting ‘can we play you every week’ – having taken six points, scored five goals and kept two clean sheets against Watford (who barely laid a glove on them in three hours of football), you can understand why they’d be so keen.

Bilic opted for an unchanged starting XI to go up against the Lions with just one adjustment to the bench that saw Samuel Kalu make a return to the matchday squad.  

Millwall created the first chance of the game as Flemming put one past the post and out for a goal kick.

A moment of risk from Bachmann as his hesitant clearance fell straight to Bradshaw 25 yards from the goal; however, his attempt was palmed away by the Watford number one as he raced back.

Ten minutes played and there were penalty claims from the home support as Davis looked to have been brought down inside the Millwall box, but the referee waved play on.

Four minutes later, Watford were under the cosh again as a shot from Wallace rose just narrowly over the bar.

Soon after an unsighted Bachmann makes a quick stop down to his left, denying Saville from putting Millwall ahead. 

However, the visitors made the breakthrough they deserved after 21 minutes. Bradshaw appeared to nudge Cathcart before he laid it off for Voglsammer just inside the Watford box, and he calmly slotted it into the bottom left corner.

Fifteen minutes before the break, Ngakia enjoyed Watford’s first attempt on target as he met a Sema out-swinging corner but failed to test the Millwall keeper.

The game took a major turn in the 38th minute as Kamara saw red for a two-handed push on McNamara after the Lions defender appeared to try and trip him after a Hornets attack. The full back’s recklessness left Watford with an uphill battle.

The Golden Boys went into the break trailing: Millwall were the better side during the opening half racking up 13 total shots and prevented Watford from dictating play.

An inviting corner from Saville, five minutes into the second half, was floated to the back post and forced Bachmann to tip the ball over the bar.

With 62 minutes played, Sarr charged down the wing following on from a well-placed Sema pass but was stopped in his tracks by a Millwall defender.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead in the 63rd minute as Voglsammer’s chip beat Bachmann but hit the crossbar.

Davis was nearly able to bring Watford level just five minutes later with a chance from inside the box. The number seven held off his man and found space for a shot but was unable to keep it on target.

With only eight to play Flemming wrapped it up for Millwall. From 20 yards out his whipped free-kick did not need any help as the ball curled round from Bachmann and found the net inside the far post.

Asprilla tried to revive any chance of a Watford comeback as the game headed into stoppage time. His agile dribbling allowed him to move past the Millwall back line and let fly, forcing Long to push it wide. 

Watford: Bachmann; Ngakia (Gaspar 61), Cathcart, Kabasele (Kalu 71), Kamara; Dele-Bashiru, Bacuna (Troost-Ekong 46); Sema, Pedro (Asprilla 35), Sarr; Davis. Subs: Hamer, Bayo, Sierralta.