Leeds defender Clarke Carlisle added to 10-man Watford's relegation worries
with a second-half winner at Vicarage Road.
Heidar Helguson ensured the Hornets went in at the break on level terms after
cancelling out Rob Hulse's opener but when Jay DeMerit was dismissed shortly
after the break the visitors upped the pace and Carlisle sealed the points with
a header.
Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd, squaring up to former mentor Kevin Blackwell
for the first time since leaving Elland Road, handed Danny Cullip his debut
after the on-loan defender recovered from a thigh injury.
Blackwell welcomed Michael Gray back into the squad after a three-match
suspension, while fellow defender Gary Kelly returned after a bout of
tonsillitis.
Midfielder Frazer Richardson was named on the substitutes' bench
after overcoming a hamstring strain.
Watford started like a team desperate for points and pinned Leeds back right
from the kick-off.
Defender Clarke Carlisle failed to clear his lines in the
third minute and Helguson's brilliant shot was well-saved by goalkeeper Neil
Sullivan.
Leeds took their time to get to grips with the pace of the game but they
enjoyed a good spell just before their 28th-minute opener.
It was a touch of class from Hulse who managed to get in front of Cullip to
head Kelly's cross past the helpless Richard Lee.
The hosts went in search of an immediate reply and Chris Eagles went on a
superb run only to see his shot turned behind by Sullivan.
Boothroyd's side rallied in the closing stages of the half and were rewarded
five minutes before the interval when Sullivan blocked Brynjar Gunnarsson's shot
and Helguson nodded home the loose ball for his 17th goal of the season.
Watford's cause was not helped when DeMerit walked five minutes after the
restart after picking up a second yellow for a foul on Hulse, having already
been cautioned for an illegal challenge on the same player.
DeMerit's departure left a gap at the back and Leeds took full advantage as
Matthew Kilgallon's cross was headed home by Carlisle after 67 minutes.
Marlon King, on in place of Aaron Lennon, almost put the result beyond doubt
minutes later but after finding the time and space to have a shot he was denied
by a smart stop from Lee.
Watford almost levelled when Ashley Young curled an effort off the woodwork
and Helguson forced Sullivan into a fantastic save from the rebound, although
the offside flag had gone up against the Icelandic international.
Hulse had a great chance to put the game beyond the Hornets in the closing
stages but his header from Johnson's corner was too high to trouble Lee.
Helguson should have levelled at the death but Sullivan was equal to his
header from Young's cross as Watford slipped nearer to the Coca-Cola Championship trapdoor.
Teams:
Watford Lee, Doyley, DeMerit, Cullip, Chambers,
Eagles (Young 72), Mahon, Gunnarsson (Dyer 79), Blizzard,
Bouazza (McNamee 75), Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Cox.
Sent Off: DeMerit (50).
Booked: DeMerit.
Goals: Helguson 41.
Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Carlisle, Kilgallon, Gray, Johnson,
Gregan, Derry, Lennon (King 66), Healy (Moore 27),
Hulse (Richardson 88).
Subs Not Used: Einarsson, Spring.
Booked: Carlisle, Healy.
Goals: Hulse 28, Carlisle 67.
Att: 16,306
Ref: N Miller (Co Durham).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook