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.

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