Neil Harris believes a lot of Watford’s players will be playing Premier League football next season, whether the Hornets are promoted or not, after his relegation-threatened Millwall side were beaten 2-0 by Slavisa Jokanovic’s side at the Den.

The Lions were fully committed and had their chances to get on the score sheet but were undone by a fine individual strike by Matej Vydra and fine team move rounded off by Adlene Guedioura.

Reflecting on his side’s display, Harris said: “[I was] pleased in a lot of senses. I thought between both penalty areas we were outstanding. Everything we were asking for they gave us again which is so important. The difference that was clear to see was the quality in the final third and that’s why a lot of the Watford players will be gracing the Premier League next year with the club or without the club.”

The Milwall boss was aggrieved though, that his side were not awarded a penalty earlier in the game when Ed Upson was felled by a Ben Watson challenge.

“I think it’s about as clear-cut a penalty as you’re ever going to see,” he said. “At the time I thought it was a stonewall penalty and having seen it back a few times it’s clear to see that Ed’s between the ball and the player. The player makes an honest challenge for the ball but he clatters through Ed first without getting near the ball so it is a penalty and probably changes the swing of the game but as happens when you’re near the bottom you don’t always get decisions like that.”

Harris was also asked about a possible handball incident later in the game when Gabriele Angella got in the way of an off-target Aiden O’Brien shot. He responded: “I can see why the referee didn’t give that one. It happened really quickly and, again, when you’re at the top of the league the decision might go for you, when you’re at the bottom they don’t. I can understand the referee’s decision on that one. The first one, I can’t understand it.”

The 37-year-old is Millwall’s record goal scorer and he was quick to praise the quality of Vydra’s goal that gave the visitors a first-half lead.

He said: “I thought it was an outstanding goal. As an ex-striker I thought it was a great finish. I think we can say with both goals we could have defended slightly better. Of course we’ll learn from that but you have to give credit where it’s due.”