Millwall surrendered a half-time lead as they let the chance to regain a Nationwide Division One play-off berth slip by against lowly Watford.

Daniele Dichio gave them a perfect start, with only his second goal in 14 games, but Watford hit back in the second half and took the points through Bruce Dyer and Lee Cook strikes.

The hosts set about getting the points from the outset with Paul Ifill, making his first outing at the Den for a month, at the thick of things.

And on 16 minutes, Dichio had given them the lead their bright opening deserved.

The Lions striker was brought down by Sean Dyche before making his way to the danger zone to await Peter Sweeney's free-kick.

Nick Chadwick, replacing Neil Harris in attack, knocked down Sweeney's left-wing delivery and Dichio headed past Watford goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain from close range.

Millwall kept the pressure on with Ifill cutting in from the right and shooting narrowly wide of Chamberlain's goal.

But the visitors began to get a foothold in the game after half an hour.

Paul Devlin crossed for Micah Hyde but the Hornets midfielder headed wide. Then striker Hameur Bouazza's header was easily saved by Andy Marshall in the Millwall goal.

The hosts responded through Dichio, who headed wide, before Ifill shot high and wide from just inside the box after 34 minutes.

However, it was the hosts who were pinned back in their own half at the beginning of the second period and within eight minutes Watford had drawn level.

The Millwall defence looked to have dealt with a long free-kick by Gavin Mahon but Devlin knocked the ball on for Dyer.

The Watford striker bundled the ball home from two yards for his second goal in two games but only his third all season.

It looked like only one side would go on to win as the visitors continued to press forward.

Dyer was harshly adjudged offside after a good run by on-loan full-back Chris Baird before Cook's 30-yard effort was saved by Marshall on 67 minutes.

But the Millwall 'keeper could do nothing about Cook's winner four minutes later.

The 21-year-old midfielder picked the ball up midway through the Millwall half and attacked the home defence.

Robert Ryan backed off, allowing Cook space to send a rasping left-foot drive past Marshall from 20 yards.

Moments before the goal, Millwall introduced Harris and Marvin Elliott for Ifill and the subdued Cahill and their best chance to equalise fell to Harris in injury time, but Chamberlain saved his volley.

Teams

Millwall (1) 1 Watford (0) 2

Millwall: Marshall, Ryan, Lawrence, Ward, Livermore, Sweeney (Cogan 80), Cahill (Harris 69), Wise, Ifill (Elliott 70), Chadwick, Dichio.

Subs Not Used: Gueret, McCammon.

Booked: Ifill.

Goals: Dichio 16.

Watford: Chamberlain, Baird, Dyche, Gayle, Mayo, Devlin, Mahon, Hyde, Cook (Ardley 79), Dyer, Bouazza (Fitzgerald 89).

Subs Not Used: Vernazza, Doyley, Pidgeley.

Goals: Dyer 53, Cook 71.

Att: 10,263

Ref: A Kaye (W Yorkshire).