Leeds moved a step nearer their multi-million pound dream of Champions' League football next season on a night when boss David O'Leary's big-money buys all proved their worth.

O'Leary's side have targeted a place amongst Europe's elite since a long and arduous campaign started last August and are now just 180 minutes away from realising their ambition.

After a game of extreme goal-scoring exploits, Leeds' fate is again in their hands after Liverpool crashed to a stunning home defeat to Worthington Cup winners Leicester.

United know victories over Everton at Elland Road on Monday and then at West Ham on the final day of the season guarantees them at least third place in the Premiership and with it the riches of European football's most highly-prized competition.

For Watford, whose Nationwide League fate has been awaiting them for some considerable time, each goal rubbed salt into their wounds as they will now definitely set an unwanted Premiership record of the fewest amount of points in one season.

Graham Taylor's Hornets went into the game needing to win their last three matches if they were to overhaul the previous worst total of 27 points set by Ipswich in 1994-95.

They had their chances as they put the frighteners on Leeds at times but in the end United's overall quality defined the outcome, which was never in doubt when they added a second goal on the stroke of half-time.

Dominic Foley and Darren Ward had both gone close for Watford before Michael Bridges completed the first part of his ambitious double by scoring his 20th goal of the season.

The opener, somewhat ironically, arrived in the 20th minute and earned the England Under-21 international £20 in the process courtesy of a bet with Leeds' chief scout Ian Broomfield.

United's £5million club record signing has long had his sights set on the magical mark, emulating the feat of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the last two seasons.

After scoring in his previous two matches following an eight-game barren run, Bridges had nudged his way onto 19 in his first full season in the top flight following his summer move from Sunderland.

With confidence soaring again Bridges seized upon a weak clearance out of the Watford defence and after one touch to give himself a clear sight of goal he then beat goalkeeper Chris Day with a cracker from the edge of the area.

The pre-season wager with Broomfield might have swelled his wallet, but the 21-year-old is now just two strikes away from becoming the first Leeds player to score 20 Premiership goals in one season - he now has 18 in the league and two in the cup.

It seemed the perfect platform on which to build, but the lead lasted just five minutes as Foley then scored his first goal this season for Watford.

David Perpetuini's left-wing cross was met at the far post by a downward header from Heidar Helguson, the ball then bouncing kindly into the path of Foley allowing him to drill home from eight yards past Nigel Martyn.

Worse nearly followed for Leeds, who were indebted to a world-class save from Martyn to prevent themselves from embarrassingly going into the break a goal down.

Tommy Smith surged towards the deadball line and pulled his cross back for the awaiting Foley to thunder in a first-time shot from point-blank range, only for England international Martyn to acrobatically tip over.

The sigh of relief was palpable and then as the break loomed Leeds capitalised on Watford's wasted opportunity as Duberry made the critics eat their words.

The centre-back has had few chances to make his mark in the side since his own £4.5million summer switch from Chelsea, with many labelling the imposing defender a major flop.

But Duberry was in the right place at the right time to lash home a Stephen McPhail free-kick into the roof of the net - his first goal in any competition since November 2 1996.

The delight on his face was evident and from that moment there was no way back for Watford as the Leeds players queued up in the second half to make the scoreline a humiliating one.

But Leeds only added one further goal, although for striker Darren Huckerby it ended his own personal nightmare in front of goal since he moved to Elland Road from Coventry for £4.5million last summer.

Starting his first game since Boxing Day, Huckerby finally scored his first goal for seven months as he delightfully curled home the third in the 52nd minute in between centre-backs Robert Page and Ward and beyond the despairing dive of Day.

Leeds then finished at a canter and Champions League football now beckons, while the fall-back position is that they need just two points from their final two matches to ensure they will at least be in the UEFA Cup next season.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe (Woodgate 46), Duberry, Mills, Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail, Kewell, Huckerby (Smith 80), Bridges.

Subs Not Used: Hopkin, Wilcox, Robinson.

Booked: Bridges.

Goals: Bridges 20, Duberry 45, Huckerby 52.

Watford: Day, Cox, Page, Ward, Robinson, Foley (Mooney 66), Hyde, Palmer, Perpetuini, Helguson (Wooter 66), Smith.

Subs Not Used: Gibbs, Bonnot, Chamberlain.

Booked: Hyde.

Goals: Foley 25.

Att: 36,324

Ref: P Alcock (Halstead).