Millwall 1-0 Watford: Zian Flemming free-kick earn three points for Lions
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Zian Flemming's goal was his eighth of the season for Millwall
Millwall made it two wins out of two under new boss Neil Harris as Zian Flemming's early free-kick was enough for three points against struggling Watford.
Flemming beat keeper Ben Hamer from 30 yards as Valerien Ismael's Hornets suffered their fifth defeat in six games, a run which looks to have put them out of contention for a play-off place.
Head coach Ismael had demanded more from his players following last week's home loss to Huddersfield, but despite enjoying much of the possession, they gave Lions keeper Matija Sarkic few anxious moments.
The win lifted Millwall up one place to 19th in the table, with Watford dropping one to 12th, now 12 points adrift of the top six following a run of five defeats in six games.
Ismael said on Friday that he was confident he still had the board's backing, but his team have only won one in eight ahead of Wednesday evening's home fixture against Swansea City.
He shook up his starting XI by including forward Vakoun Bayo and defenders Francisco Sierralta and Jeremy Ngakia - the latter playing his first game since November - while Millwall included Duncan Watmore in attack.
The Hornets had barely settled, though, when Jake Livermore was penalised for a foul and Flemming's speculative shot deflected off a two-man wall and caught Hamer flat-footed as it found the bottom corner.
Watmore hit the post from a tight angle as the Lions, who were beaten in six of the seven games prior to Harris' appointment, pushed for a second, but Watford went close to an equaliser when Wesley Hoedt's effort from a free-kick of their own was just too high.
Watford looked the more threatening after the break, with Vakoun Bayo only just wide from Jamal Lewis' low ball in.
Millwall have lost a division-high nine games this season, but double figures was never on the cards as Sarkic saved from Livermore and Matheus Martins to preserve the lead.
They will next be in action on Tuesday evening, with an away game at Blackburn Rovers.
Millwall manager Neil Harris told BBC Radio London:
"I would like us to have played slightly better in my first home game back and got a second goal when Watmore went round the goalkeeper but ultimately we've got three points.
"That was a Millwall atmosphere, that was a Millwall performance and that was us as a football club coming together.
"I've come back to help the club and help this group of players be a Millwall team - there's so much we need to improve on but we've got so little time.
"At the moment, the focus is on the areas we can improve quickly and to win at Southampton in the manner we did, and to win today, we've had a good start."
Watford head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We conceded a deflected goal and after that, there was nothing from the opponents.
"We were not intimidated by the atmosphere, we were under control but we didn't create that big chance to give us the feeling that we can win the game.
"For sure, (there is) a lack of confidence because of the run we've had but at least it was an improved performance.
"We need to play forwards and stop playing backwards, backwards, backwards - we want to have the ball, but even when you are in difficult situations you have to take the responsibility to try something because we want to play positive football."