Minute-by-minute match report: Leeds United 2 Watford 1.
Two goals in the first seven minutes, both down to errors from Dan Bachmann, sowed the seeds for Watford’s 2-1 defeat at Leeds United.
The Hornets were almost out of the game before they had a chance to be in, but they rode out the nightmare start and made a good fight of things in the second half.
It was no surprise that the starting XI was much changed from Saturday.
We already knew Angelo Ogbonna was out through injury, but Ryan Porteous was dropped to the bench and James Morris came in.
Both wing-backs were changed, with Festy Ebosele and Yasser Larouci starting, and Ryan Andrews and Ken Sema on the bench.
Edo Kayembe dropped deeper to replace the absent Tom Dele-Bashiru, with Tom Ince playing as one of the two No.10s.
Kwadwo Baah started in attack with Vakoun Bayo on the bench and Daniel Jebbison not in the 20.
If the Hornets were looking to lay some solid foundations after Saturday’s derby defeat, then being 2-0 down after seven minutes was the polar opposite.
Fluid logo
Both goals were down to individual errors by Bachmann, who was then taunted by the home fans for the rest of the first half as Leeds retained control of the game comfortably.
The second half was a very different affair, especially after Baah pulled a goal back within two minutes.
Suddenly the home fans were quiet and even a bit nervous as Watford looked capable of getting back into the game.
However, the momentum slowly swung back towards Leeds as the half wore on and they saw out eight minutes of stoppage time as well at the end.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
4 – Leeds 1 (Ramazani) Watford 0
Oh dear. Ramazani shoots from the corner of the box, Bachmann is right behind it but merely tips it over his head and over the line.
6 – Gnonto gets into the box on the right and his low angled effort is very narrowly wide of the back post.
7 – Leeds 2 (Aaronson) Watford 0
Oh dear. Again. Gnonto crosses from the right, Bachmann palms the ball straight into the path of Aaronson and he sticks it in the net.
30 – Bachmann will feel a touch better there, doing well to block Gnonto’s fierce drive at the near post.
31 – Tanaka gets on the end of a deep cross at the back post but can’t direct his effort on target.
33 – Gnonto lets fly from 25 yards and the ball is deflected wide by Sierralta.
34 – Rothwell’s corner is flicked on and Tanaka stretches at the back post but cannot get his header on target.
39 – Easily Watford’s best moment so far as Sissoko feeds Chakvetadze, and he curls a 20-yard effort that Meslier palms round the post.
40 – From the second of two corners, Pollock and Sissoko rise well at the back post but the ball goes over the bar.
45+2 – Gnonto jinks left and right, before letting fly with a shot that Sierralta does well to get back and block.
Half-time – Leeds 2 Watford 0
47 – Leeds 2 Watford 1 (Baah)
Much better start to this half as Baah makes a typical surge to the by-line and, when his cross is blocked, lashes the loose ball past Meslier.
50 – Superb diagonal pass from Sierralta is matched by Larouci’s first touch and he sprints into the box and lashes a shot over the bar.
59 – Ince drills a curling free kick and Meslier fumbles a punch around the post.
61 – Bogle’s cross is mishit and smacks off the back post to Piroe, but his reaction shot is blocked by Bachmann.
76 – Bogle gets in down the right of the box but his ball in is neither a cross or a shot and drifts wide of the back post.
78 – Clever pass from Ramazani frees James in the box but his low shot is straight at Bachmann.
80 – Solomon makes space for a shot from 20 yards and sends it just wide.
82 – James curls a perfect pass for Joseph who then sends a free header straight at Bachmann.
89 – James is set racing into the box but his well-struck shot is pushed over by Bachmann.
Full-time – Leeds 2 Watford 1
Watford: Bachmann; Sierralta (Porteous 62), Pollock, Morris; Ebosele (Andrews 71), Sissoko (Vata 86), Kayembe, Larouci (Sema 71); Chakvetadze, Ince; Baah (Doumbia 86). Subs: Bond, Dwomoh, Tikvic, Bayo