Connect with us

Championship

Watford fans call for club to sack manager after defeat to Millwall and poor start to season

Watford fans call for club to sack manager after defeat to Millwall and the Hornets’ poor start to the 2025/26 season.

Camiel Neghli produced a deft free-kick in the 10th-minute to secure Millwall’s first home Championship win of the season at The Den.

Millwall also had a strong shout for a penalty after a foul on Macaulay Langstaff was turned down, then Steven Benda pulled off a sensational save to stop Watford’s Luca Kjerrumgaard from getting a leveller in the 90th minute.

The Championship table makes better reading for Millwall they’re up into the top half, sitting 10th with 10 points from 6 games.

It’s not so good for Watford, who remain outside the relegation zone on only goal difference, Watford sit 21st with 5 points from 6 games, on a run of four Championship games without a win and just one win in their seven opening fixtures in all competitions.

Geoff Doyle (Commentator on BBC Three Counties Radio): “It’s defeat number three for Watford this season. They nearly got an equaliser right at the death but take nothing.”

Derek Payne (Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio): “I’m unsure what Watford’s tactics were. I want to know. After the break, they played with a lot more intensity and tempo. They were on the front foot but, for all the possession they had, they didn’t really create any chances. I’ll be interested to hear what the manager says because the players look happier when they’re on the front foot. There are lots of talking points but, for me, it was too little, too late. You can’t win matches when you play for 45 minutes.”

Gary Rowett (Former Millwall manager on Sky Sports): “It’s an absolutely vital win for Millwall. You want to get off the mark at The Den. The stats don’t reflect the feel of the game. It felt like Millwall were comfortable until the last 10 or 15 minutes. They were solid. They performed really, really well against Palace in the cup as well. They’ve got some injuries and it shows they can cope. Massimo Luongo held it together in the middle of the pitch.”

Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano said: “We deserved something from the game.

“The team made a great effort physically, they’re growing and are in a process, but we must keep going.

“The finishing will come. It is a part of the process the team is going through. These players deserve more.

“We had more chances today and more control than in the previous game.

“We like having options and it is good for us to have attacking players and players for control.

“We are comfortable with what the players showed today and the path they are on.

“Petris suffered an injury in the last training session.

“We felt Formose – even though he is more of a centre-back or full-back – was the player from those that were available that fitted the profile.

“We feel he did well in that position.”

On how long it should take for it to clock: “It’s hard to give a timeframe for a situation like this.

“Today, the team showed a different face to that in the previous match.

“They did well against a difficult opponent and the game was defined by a very small margin.

“All we have to do is keep working and keep on the same track and keep it going every day.”

Watford’s Hector Kyprianou, speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a game of margins and there wasn’t much in it.

“After their free-kick went in early doors, we had a lot of control of the ball – especially in the second half.

“We created a few chances but things just aren’t falling for us at the moment. It’s a process. If we all stick together – which we are – things will change.”

On what was said at half-time: “It was just about believing a bit more. This is a tough place to come and the early goal possibly shook us a bit.

“We’ve got a lot of new players in the team. Our team’s quite young. We needed to come in and reset and that showed in the second half – we were on top for the majority of it.

“We’ve got a great squad and, in this league, you need a big squad.

“It will all come to fruition later in the season, when there are going to be a lot of turnovers in the games and we’ll be able to bring on fresh legs.

“It’s all about positivity. It’s all about sticking together. I’ve come in this

Millwall’s Camiel Neghli speaking to Sky Sports: “The goalkeeper was so far to the far post so there was enough room to hit it with low pace and I was so pleased it went in.

“Last time there was the same situation I didn’t take it but they just told me to take it – I have a good left foot so I practiced some and it was very nice.

“We have a great group – the likes of Massimo (Luongo) help us a lot and it’s great to be here.”

Millwall’s Massimo Luongo has told Sky Sports: “It’s amazing to get a first home win of the season and under the lights as well – we’ve been close but just haven’t seen the game through and been sloppy in parts.

“I always feel comfortable defending but it’s the Championship and if you’re 1-0 up they’re going to throw bodies forward.

“The best teams that get promoted or are up there see it through and we’ve done that.

“I know we lost a lot of experienced players, boys who have been here a long time.

“We’ve invested in young boys and I’m lucky to help them out. The manager is good – we have one message and we go and execute it.”

Millwall boss Alex Neil has just been speaking to Sky Sports: “We hadn’t won here in the league, so that always puts pressure on.

“In the first half we were good value and played well. The second half was more gritty in terms of hanging on – some of them were on their last legs, especially with injuries through the middle of the pitch, which makes it difficult to get freshness on.

“I do think we should have had a penalty late on. I might be proven wrong – I haven’t seen it back – but it looked stonewall.

“We deserved the points over the piece, albeit in a tight game.

 “It’s tough because nobody really cares whether you’ve got injuries or not.

“They still think you should go and win matches, and that’s fine. We just need to find a way to do it.

“We put Derek Mazou-Sacko in the middle of the pitch. He came here at the end of the window and he doesn’t speak English, really, but his football IQ’s really good.

“Thierno Ballo, particularly, in the first half was really good at finding pockets of space and creating moments when we looked dangerous.”

As mentioned, Watford fans call for the club to sack their manager after defeat to Millwall and a poor start to the season…

@OwenOrnz: I’ll drive Paulo Pezzolano anywhere, as long as it’s as far away from #watfordfc as possible. The man is clueless.

@mattjack389: I felt sorry for F Mendy tonight clearly not a wing back and set up to fail on debut, he did all right but was clearly out of position going forward. I had no idea why it took over 70 minutes to replace him with Baah we were trailing for an hour by that point #WatfordFC

@NicktheHornet: To lose 1-0 with a whimper to average sides like Charlton, Blackburn and Millwall is inexcusable. Where’s the high pressing attacking football that was promised?! The line up and substitutes were so awful. I’ve seen enough #PezzolanoOut #watfordfc

@DanHarvey74: Kyprianou rather than this terrible manager doing the post match interview on Sky? Pathetic. Should never have appointed a manager incapable of speaking English. At least Cleverley’s bullshit was there for us to hear… #watfordfc

@watfordfan07: I’m fuming. tonight was unacceptable and unforgivable. can’t remember a worser first half then that, lineup was a disgrace. I’ve wanted Paulo to do well but if we’re after “promotion” he should be sacked and to make it worse we’re sitting 21st. carrick in please. #watfordfc

@JRP1881: Not seen an away end that against manager in a longgg time, 1k Watford fans at London Bridge chanting against the manager. See ya pezz #watfordfc

@watford1985: Pezzolano keeps saying we need to believe in the ‘process’ but there is no process if you change your 11 and tactics every week. It’s finger in the air, football manager style management. He hasn’t got a clue and is hoping something sticks. #watfordfc

@Jessaroo1881: I love this club to bits but my god they are testing my patience. How many times do we have to watch the same rubbish every week. Different manager but nothing has changed. This is on you again Gino. #WatfordFC

@HornetBoy1881: Don’t even let Paulo on the bus get him sacked before then. Make him get a fucking taxi home. What an absolute muppet. U have the best wingers in the leeg and u play a 532 then when u bring on baah (with 15 mins left) u put him rwb. He’s actually taking the piss here.

@MalekWFC_: How can anyone with a brain look at these players and decide “Yeah, let’s go with a 5-3-2”? What on earth is he thinking? #watfordfc

@BSaundersSport: Right, he has Kyprianou and Louza in to play in front of a back four. If he doesn’t play Baah, Irankunda and Vata in on Saturday there is no question at all that he should be gone. And it is looking like ANOTHER failed appointment from the @WatfordFC board. #WatfordFC

@mattie_rance: Frustrating defeat that, although Pezzolano is asking for trouble for picking a team like he did, he clearly doesn’t know his best team or formation and that’s a major concern. To keep Baah on the bench for as long as he did was shocking. On to Hull on Saturday. #watfordfc

@HornetShane: The decision to sack Clevs for an Uruguayan PE teacher was questionable. 7 games in
 and it’s laughable. Another clueless Pozzo appointment, the buck stops with Gino as always. #watfordfc #PozzoOut

Related Topics
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Championship