Tom Bradshaw scored a hattrick to help Milwall produce one of the comprehensive football scores of the midweek action in the Championship. Bradshaw scored three goals in a little more than 30 minutes to give Gary Rowett’s team their third straight victory in a match they completely dominated. This victory moved them one point away from the Championship play-off spots. In just eight minutes, Bradshaw scored the first goal of the game. On his first Championship start for the visitors, Bradshaw grabbed onto a long goal-kick that center-back Mattie Pollock failed to deal with before neatly lofting the ball over Daniel Bachmann.
The early goal sparked the home team into action as they took control of the game. Jake Cooper almost added a second after 17 minutes when Bachmann deflected his header over the bar, and Bradshaw nearly scrambled in another as the next corner was not cleared. The Hornets were given an early warning but disregarded it because the Watford backline was helpless to stop long balls from entering their penalty area. Ten minutes later, a long free kick that was aimed at the box gave the Lions their second. Mason Bennett was unmarked on the left side of the box when center defender Cooper’s header from a corner kick found him. Bennett then delivered across the goal for the easiest of tap-ins for Bradshaw.
The loanee from Aston Villa came the closest for Slaven Bilic’s team in the first half, but the hosts were more likely to score before the break when their ferocious shot was deflected wide after 35 minutes. This time, Watford’s problem came from a long throw into the area, but Cooper was unable to convert from supplier to scorer despite his best efforts to ram the ball in from close range. Joao Pedro and Samuel Kalu were introduced into the game by Bilic at halftime, but it didn’t seem to make much of a difference. The visitors fought valiantly but were unable to test Millwall goalkeeper George Long, as the hosts cruised to a comfortable victory.
For more football scores, click here
