LEEDS UTD: Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Miller, Derry,Douglas (Healy 74), Lewis, Hulse (Cresswell 74), Blake.
Subs Not Used: Bennett, Einarsson, Walton.
WATFORD: Foster, Doyley, Mackay, DeMerit, Stewart,Eagles (Chamberlain 58), Bangura (Mariappa 75), Chambers,Young, King (Bouazza 83), Henderson.
Subs Not Used: McNamee, Diagouraga.
It was all going so well for the Hornets as they headed towards their seventh successive Coca-Cola Championship win. Then … it all went pear-shaped.
Ashley Young’s free-kick five minutes before the break put the Hornets ahead and stunned the Leeds fans who feared that automatic promotion spot had just disappeared over the horizon.
A catastrophic second-half collapse saw Watford reduced to nine men for the final half hour and Robbie Blake put the promotion hopes back on track.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster conceded a penalty and was shown a straight red card to add to his misfortune. Blake fired the resulting spot-kick past 41-year-old replacement keeper Alec Chamberlain to draw Leeds level before tensions hit boiling point moments later.
Hornets striker Darius Henderson became embroiled in an unseemly tussle with Sean Gregan and after retaliating to the Leeds defender’s challenge he was also dismissed by referee Michael Jones.
Kevin Blackwell’s side soon made their numerical advantage pay and Blake’s clinical 81st-minute finish secured a priceless win to keep the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United.
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