Tom Bradshaw’s first-half hat-trick reduced Watford to a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Millwall, with the home side’s direct approach in attack paying off in dramatic style under the lights at The Den.

The first of three goals instigated from long balls over the top came two minutes shy of the 10-minute mark, with Bradshaw striking sweetly before tripling his tally with two more goals before the break.

With the arrival of João Pedro and Samuel Kalu on the scene Watford showed more purpose in the second half, though ultimately without reward, as Gary Rowett’s Lions held on for a handsome win with a clean sheet.

Having fallen short in their attempts to record successive wins for the first time this season the Hornets slip down to 15th in the Sky Bet Championship table with 15 games played, ahead of Sunday’s hotly-anticipated home clash against local rivals Luton Town (October 23, 12noon KO).

Head Coach Slaven Bilić made one change to the XI that had triumphed over Norwich City last time out, with Mattie Pollock earning his first Championship start in place of Craig Cathcart, who was left out as a precaution having recently returned from injury.

Millwall signalled their intent straight from kick-off with a long ball forward aimed at Jake Cooper, and after skipper-for-the-night William Troost-Ekong had remained composed to help snuff out the danger, the Hornets got their foot on the ball for the first time.

Ismaïla Sarr announced himself to the contest with a silky nutmeg in the fifth minute, before Keinan Davis enjoyed the game’s first real chance moments later, his shot deflecting up and into George Long’s arms after some neat link-up play with Yáser Asprilla.

But the Hornets quickly found themselves on the back foot, with a misjudged Pollock header opening up a chance for home forward Bradshaw, who latched onto the loose ball and fired home for 1-0 with barely seven minutes gone.

With the momentum in their favour the Lions continued to apply the pressure on Watford, and goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann was called upon to deal with a string of high balls into his box around the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

The Hornets were forced into an early change, with Imrân Louza being replaced by Edo Kayembe after failing to shake off an ankle issue, before Sarr shot off target from the corner of the box in a rare away attack.

But long balls deep into Watford territory were causing Bilić’s side continuous problems, and Bradshaw made it 2-0 to the men in blue from close range in the 26th minute, tapping home Mason Bennett’s cut-back after Cooper’s initial flick-on.

Two became three for both Bradshaw and his team seven minutes later, with another high ball not being dealt with, Cooper flicking on again, and the Millwall No.9 this time controlling, turning and shooting past Bachmann.

Davis shot narrowly wide of the hosts’ left-hand post as Watford looked to conjure a response straight from the restart, but as the clock ticked towards half-time Cooper went close to a fourth for Millwall from a Zian Flemming throw.

Bilić threw on João Pedro and Kalu at the interval, in place of Hamza Choudhury and Ken Sema, and straight on the attack Watford saw penalty appeals waved away by referee David Webb when Sarr went down under a challenge from Scott Malone.

With Millwall in control of the scoreline, and seemingly happy to sit back and let Watford have possession, the visitors struggled to create any meaningful opportunities, though Kalu occasionally looked lively when in possession.

Vakoun Bayo became the latest attacking addition to the action with little under 20 minutes to go - in place of Davis - but it was the home side who went close to adding another goal to their tally when Benik Afobe flashed an attempt high and wide late on.

Kalu hit the post in the dying embers of the game, before a Pollock header called Long into action, but Watford were ultimately unable to etch their name on the scoresheet before the full-time whistle was blown.