Wednesday 1 February: The Mail Online
WATFORD overcame speculation surrounding potential departures of their star players by ending a run of three successive league defeats to claim all three points at Millwall.
Much of the pre-match hype centred on the futures of Marvin Sordell, who was withdrawn from the Hornets' squad at the request of owner Laurence Bassini, and Adrian Mariappa.
Sordell's removal from the matchday 16 came amid reports linking the striker with a move to several Barclays Premier League clubs as well as Cardiff.
Defender Mariappa, meanwhile, played despite a move to either Wigan or Newcastle being touted for much of the day.
The off-field distractions had little impact, though, as the Hornets dominated a drab encounter throughout and emerged victorious.
Troy Deeney fired them ahead in the first half, producing a neat finish from the edge of the area, before Joe Garner added a second with the simplest of finishes.
Watford enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and almost took an early lead when Garner forced a fine save from David Forde after getting on the end of Sean Murray's cross.
Sean Dyche's side continued to shine and again came agonisingly close to going ahead soon after.
Scott Loach's long ball was flicked on into the path of Garner, but the striker could only hit wide from just outside the area.
The game entered a lull thereafter, with both sides struggling to fashion any opportunities.
However, the visitors took a deserved lead in the 35th minute as Alex Kacaniklic, making his debut, produced a fine through-ball to Deeney, who converted from the edge of the area.
Watford continued to impress, although the Lions almost levelled things up when Scott Loach produced a fine point-blank save to deny Liam Trotter.
Picking up where they left off, the Hornets started positively after the interval and added another goal in the 59th minute.
Murray capitalised on Jack Smith's mistake to find Denney, only for the striker to see his effort saved by Forde, allowing Garner to slot home the rebound.
That goal seemed to finally spark some life into Millwall as Darius Henderson headed just over the crossbar.
The hosts came even closer to pulling a goal back with 10 minutes remaining, but Trotter's header hit the post.
The Lions' misery was compounded in the dying seconds when Loach saved Henderson's penalty after substitute John Marquis was brought down by the goalkeeper.
Wednesday 1 February: The Mirror Online
SEAN Dyche backed Watford's goal heroes to step out of the shadows following Marvin Sordell's exit.
Troy Deeney and Joe Garner netted in either half against their relegation rivals in the wake of 10-goal Sordell's move.
Watford chief Dyche said: "We've had challenges when good players have left the club in the past - but they stepped up. We've had a busy day and our preparation was hard for the players with the late transfer news, but they were outstanding."
Watford managed to cling onto the in-demand defender Adrian Mariappa - but Deeney and Garner eased their goal fears at the other end.
Deeney fired the dominant visitors ahead in the 35th minute before Garner bundled home on the hour mark.
Millwall were devoid of ideas with Darius Henderson's late penalty miss summing up their struggles.
Millwall boss Kenny Jackett said: "We looked flat and conceded two poor goals. When we fall behind, we seem to lack confidence at the moment."
Wednesday 1 February: The Sun Online
TROY Deeney and Joe Garner were on target as Watford proved Millwall's bogey side again.
The Lions suffered a 6-1 home humiliation against the Hornets last season and this was a fourth consecutive loss to their rivals.
Deeney fired home in the 35th minute and Garner tapped in a second on 59 minutes.
Watford's Scott Loach saved former Hornet Darius Henderson's injury-time penalty after the keeper had tripped John Marquis.
Visiting boss Sean Dyche said: "I was delighted with the players' focus."
Millwall chief Kenny Jackett fumed: "This performance was a big disappointment."
Tuesday 31 January: South London Press
MILLWALL suffered a second home defeat by Watford in a row after an abject display against ex-Lion Sean Dyche's men.
This time it was just 2-0, compared to last season's 6-1 thrashing, but if anything the performance was more humiliating.
On-loan Spurs midfielder Alex Kacaniklic's perceptive pass gave Troy Deeney the chance to arrow just inside the far post in the 35th minute.
Their second arrived just on the hour. Lloyd Doyley scrambled a route through three Millwall tackles before squaring for Kacaniklic. Scott Barron and David Forde got in each other's way trying to block and the ball fell nicely for Joe Garner who smashed into an open net.
Darius Henderson had a chance to set up a tense finish but his added-time penalty was saved by Scott Loach.
Tuesday 31 January: London 24 Online
FULHAM loanee Alex Kacaniklic, on debut, was the architect of Millwall's downfall as he provided two goals for Watford as the Hornets cruised to victory at The Den.
The opening period was a quiet affair until Troy Deeney placed his 20-yard effort perfectly into the bottom right and corner to give the Hertfordshire side the lead.
The Lions went two down when the Fulham loanee forced David Forde into a good save but he could only parry it into the path of Joe Garner to double the lead.
Watford had the better start and Garner had the first opportunity in the ninth minute when he ran though on goal but he fired his shot wide.
Deeney then had a good effort a few minutes later but his effort just dropped over the bar.
Darius Henderson had Millwall's first chance but he headed Scott Barron's corner wide.
Deeney then gave the Hornets the lead when his 20-yard effort found the bottom corner after an excellent ball from Alex Kacaniklic.
Scott Loach then made a fantastic point blank save to deny Liam Trotter and then was fouled as he tried to regather.
Watford doubled their lead within 10 minutes of the restart as David Forde could only parry Kacaniklic's shot into the path of Garner to double the lead.
Lee Hodson and Scott Barron then had a disagreement off the ball and the pair of them were yellow carded moments later.
Liam Trotter was unlucky with his header 10 minutes from time, as it came back off the post.
Millwall got a penalty in the last minute of normal time when Loach brought down Hackett inside the area but redeemed himself by diving to his right to deny Henderson's penalty to cap a miserable night for the Lions.
