Leeds United 2 Watford 1: Early blitz sends Whites into autos but injury and suspension blow — YEP 22/10/24
By Lee Sobot
Leeds took on Watford at Elland Road knowing a win by two
goals would take them top.
Leeds United moved back into the Championship's automatic
promotion places as early goals from Largie Ramazani and birthday boy Brenden
Aaronson blitzed Watford en route to a 2-1 victory at Elland Road.
Whites boss Daniel Farke named an unchanged team for the
third game running, fresh from Friday night's impressive 2-0 victory at home to
previously unbeaten Sheffield United.
With leaders Sunderland and second-placed Burnley not
playing again until Wednesday night, Leeds knew that a win by two clear goals
would take them from third to first, albeit having played a game more.
Watford arrived at Elland Road sat eighth in the table and
just three points behind Leeds but with a woeful recent away run, prolonged by
the weekend's 3-0 defeat at rivals Luton Town.
Tom Cleverley's side were also dealt a fresh blow ahead of
kick-off with the news that Fisayo Dele-Bashiru had a swollen knee on the back
of Saturday's loss at Luton and was forced to miss out.
Angelo Ogbonna had also suffered a hamstring injury in the
defeat at Kenilworth Road but Cleverley made four other changes for six in
total in the bid for the right reaction at Elland Road.
Yet within just seven minutes his side were 2-0 down after
two moments to forget for keeper Daniel Bachmann led to goals for Ramazani and
Aaronson.
With just four minutes on the clock, a lovely pass from
Pascal Struijk released Junior Firpo who laid the ball back to Ramazani on the
edge of the box. The Belgian then floated a soft enough effort towards the far
post which Bachmann dropped and the ball bounced over the line as part of a
nightmare start for the Hornets.
Things then got even worse for Cleverley's side just three
minutes later as Bachmann failed to deal with a Gnonto cross from the right,
the Austrian keeper only parrying the ball into the path of birthday boy
Aaronson who gleefully finished from the middle of the box.
That could actually have been 3-0, Gnonto going extremely
close moments earlier with a shot from the right that flew inches wide of the
left hand post.
With just seven minutes on the clock, Watford looked sunk
yet the Hornets dug in to stay in the tie and Illan Meslier produced a good
save to tip a shot from Georgian striker Giorgi Chakvetadze wide for a corner.
The Hornets then went close from one of the two subsequent
corners, James Morris heading just over from close range as Watford planted
several men on Meslier. But Leeds had chances themselves to bag a third, Ao
Tanaka almost converting a corner at the far post and Gnonto seeing a strong
rising drive from the right deflected behind for a corner.
The only sour note in the first half for Leeds was an injury
blow to Ramazani who was forced off in just the 14th minute after a strong
challenge by Festy Ebosele, the Belgian attempting to play on but soon going
back to ground and punching the floor in frustration before hobbling off to be
replaced by Manor Solomon.
The first half ended with Leeds 2-0 to the good and
seemingly comfortable but the complexion of the contest changed just two
minutes after the start as Kwadwo Baah netted to bring Watford back within one
goal of being level.
The Hornets forward rounded Pascal Struijk with ease down
the right flank before letting fly with a low shot from a tight angle which was
blocked by Joe Rodon but the rebound fell right into his path and Baah smashed
home at the second attempt.
Pushed forward by Cleverley, the Hornets pressed for a
second and went very close to getting one yet the frame of the goal saved the
visitors on the hour mark as an attempt from Jayden Bogle from the right flew
past Bachmann and smacked back off the post, Gnonto and Piroe unable to convert
the rebound.
Moments earlier, Firpo had been handed his fifth yellow card
of the season for a clumsy foul on Ebosele, meaning a one-match ban for the
Whites left back.
Yet the introduction of Mateo Joseph and especially Dan
James from the bench turned the tide somewhat, James sending in a beautiful
cross for Joseph who was presented with a free header that he could only place
straight at Bachmann.
More Leeds chances then presented themselves and were not
taken leading to nervy moments in the closing stages as eight minutes of added
time were played. The clock ticked all the way towards 100 minutes yet Leeds
had done enough to record another victory which sent the Whites second, level
on points with leaders Sunderland and one point ahead of third-placed Burnley.