A catastrophic second-half collapse saw Watford reduced to nine men for the final half hour as Robbie Blake breathed new life into Leeds' automatic promotion hopes.

Ashley Young's delightful free-kick five minutes before the break put the Hornets on course for a momentous seventh successive Coca-Cola Championship win.

But manager Adrian Boothroyd could only watch in despair shortly before the hour mark as goalkeeper Ben Foster conceded a penalty and was shown a straight red card.

Blake fired the resulting spot-kick past 41-year-old replacement keeper Alec Chamberlain to draw Leeds level before tensions hit boiling point moments later.

Hornets striker Darius Henderson became embroiled in an unseemly tussle with Sean Gregan and after retaliating to the Leeds defender's challenge he was also dismissed by referee Michael Jones.

Kevin Blackwell's side soon made their numerical advantage pay and Blake's clinical 81st-minute finish secured a priceless win to keep the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United.

It turned out to be a nightmare return to Elland Road for Boothroyd, who had previously worked under Blackwell as head coach at Leeds prior to his appointment at Vicarage Road.

It was the Hornets who created the first noteworthy goalscoring opportunity when Henderson whipped in a vicious cross which narrowly eluded strike partner Marlon King.

King made nine appearances while on loan at Leeds last season - mainly on the right side of midfield - and failed to register a single goal for the club.

He was clearly out to prove a point and was perhaps unlucky not to win a penalty after taking a tumble in the box under the challenge of Leeds skipper Paul Butler.

After 22 minutes Rob Hulse almost made the breakthrough when his powerful header from Gary Kelly's corner just missed the target and shortly after Blake's cross-shot forced Foster into a fine save.

However, the visitors continued to pressurise Leeds and their endeavour was rewarded five minutes before the break when Gregan clumsily fouled King 20 yards from goal. Young, whose creativity has been a keynote of Watford's season as much as his goals, stepped up to fire home the resultant free-kick for his 13th goal of the season.

Gregan almost quickly atoned for his error by producing a firm goalbound header which forced Foster into a fine close-range save.

The second period began at breakneck speed and Blake saw his left-foot strike ruled out for offside before Henderson suffered the same fate barely 60 seconds later.

Leeds began to up the tempo and were rewarded shortly before the hour mark when Jordan Stewart's headed backpass sold Foster short.

The on-loan Manchester United stopper was forced to haul down the onrushing Hulse as the Leeds striker threatened to race clear on goal.

Foster was shown a straight red card for his discrepancy before veteran Chamberlain quickly donned the gloves and jersey.

However, his first task was to pick the ball out of the net after Blake dispatched the penalty.

Moments later, Henderson and Gregan's ugly clash saw the Watford striker dismissed for violent conduct.

And as Leeds continued to press, excellent work down the left flank from substitute Richard Cresswell allowed Blake to fire home the winner from 10 yards with nine minutes remaining.

Teams:

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Miller, Derry,Douglas (Healy 74), Lewis, Hulse (Cresswell 74), Blake.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Einarsson, Walton.

Booked: Gregan.

Goals: Blake 60 pen, 81.

Watford Foster, Doyley, Mackay, DeMerit, Stewart,Eagles (Chamberlain 58), Bangura (Mariappa 75), Chambers,Young, King (Bouazza 83), Henderson.

Subs Not Used: McNamee, Diagouraga.

Sent Off: Foster (57), Henderson (61).

Booked: Chambers, Bangura.

Goals: Young 40.

Att: 22,007

Ref: M Jones (W Yorkshire).