Match report: Leeds United v Watford F.C.

December has already brought with it blistering cold, unusually mild temperatures and even freak wind gusts at alarming speeds to West Yorkshire. And before long, Leeds would have to weather a different kind of storm that had worked its way up from Watford - but this time Leeds fought back.

Both managers were in awe after their teams threw everything but the kitchen sink at each other during a six goal thriller that ended 3-3 with honours even at Elland Road. Watford came to Leeds on the back of eight games without a win but they certainly started well. So well in fact that Leeds went through the tunnel at half-time 2-0 down after Troy Deeney and Christian Battocchio grabbed a goal each for Watford. United will have felt somewhat aggrieved to be trailing by two goals at half-time after being in control for long periods of the first half. Deeney struck first against the Whites, latching onto the end of a cross in the 12th minute and slotting it smartly past Kenny. Then, in injury time of the first half, Christian Battocchio doubled Watford's lead after Leeds piled too many players forward for an Alex Mowatt free-kick and were battered on the break.

Brian McDermott (left) watching the match from the touchline.
                                                          Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

During the interval McDermott seemed to have his work cut out for him if he was going to breathe life back into his players. "All I said to the players was 'let's get the next goal.'" explained the Leeds boss after the match to the YEP. Zola's message in the Watford dressing room was a simple one he said, telling his players to keep the game quiet for ten minutes. And it did look as though Gianfranco Zola's side could have had a comfortable finish to the afternoon. Could have. But United were whirring up a storm of their own and, right from the whistle, Leeds launched a relentless assault upon the Watford goal and were unlucky not to score as Matt Smith twice came very close in under a minute. By the 50th minute Watford were a bag of nerves and finally caved. Ross McCormack fired a cross into Danny Pugh and the United left-back beat Jonathan bond from an unbelievably tight angle.

Elland Road boomed after the goal and Zola admitted to the YEP that he could feel the atmosphere. "We couldn't afford to show any signs of going backwards. Especially in a stadium like this. It can be very intimidating and the crowd were on top of our players." he said. The Yorkshire twelfth man was definitely on the pitch as the Whites continued to chase the game. Sure enough, like a pack of hungry sharks after smelling blood in the water, Leeds struck again just six minutes later. Peltier drove a pass to McCormack who was waiting on the wing, the Leeds striker proceeded to dribble on and stand a perfect ball up for United's towering forward Matt Smith, who headed home to make it 2-2. 

Leeds had clawed back to level pegging and another goal was in their sights. Mowatt's deflected shot hit the bar and Watford goalkeeper Bond managed to block Austin's close-range header. Watford looked very shaky. After 78 minutes, Murphy floated a beautiful cross-field, quarterback-style pass up the pitch to Ross McCormack. The Scot took the ball down with finesse, before swerving it past Bond as he came to clear. It was McCormack's fifteenth goal of the season and he once again cemented himself firmly as the top goalscorer in the Sky Bet Championship for yet another week.

McCormack's goal against Watford, putting Leeds ahead 3-2.
                                                              Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

With the game turned upside down, Leeds led 3-2 at Elland road and Watford looked a defeated side. But Troy Deeney's reactions provided Watford with a vital goal just when they needed it and drew the sides level again. United centre-back Marius Zaliukas made a hero's challenge in the dying moments to deny Swedish forward Joel Ekstrand from snatching the victory.

Although Leeds could and perhaps should have won, the match was a distinct reminder of just what the championship has to offer in terms of goals and excitement and neither team is at fault in that regard, they both gave it 100 percent. At full-time McDermott noted the errors which led to Watford's goals "I suppose with every one of Watford's goals you could say that it should have been stopped but that's football. I'd rather see 4-3 than a scrappy 1-0 and it's a good point gained."

United will travel to Doncaster on Saturday for a fixture that Leeds have already won once this season, in the
league cup back in August. Doncaster are hovering just above the relegation zone on twenty points and in twentieth position, whereas Leeds are eighth and just two points from fifth. Leeds will visit the Keepmoat stadium on the back of the Watford goal extravaganza but Doncaster will be looking to rekindle their season after a 3-0 loss to Bolton.

The stage is set for a proper Yorkshire derby.

Leeds United: Kenny, Peltier, Zaliukas, Pearce, Byram, Murphy, Mowatt, Pugh, Austin, McCormack, Smith. Subs (not used): Cairns, Brown, Tonge, Varney, Drury, Poleon. Warnock.
Watford: Bond, Faraoni (Cassetti 73), Nosworthy, Ekstrand, Pudil, Thorne, Bellerin, Battocchio (Hall 90), McGugan (Murray 67), Anya, Deeney. Subs (not used): Woods, Iriney, Fabbrini, Forestieri.