For the third game running Leeds went into a potentially difficult game but came out and totally dominated the opposition, this time putting four goals past a Watford side who had no answer to the quick passing game of our front line.

Admid all the moans and groans about the FA Cup exit suffered by our under-strength side on Saturday, a few felt that the defeat could sap our momentum, and that we needed the cup run to maintain morale. But if anything, the players might have wanted to prove a point, and with the same starting line-up as the previous league game was quick to put the Watford defence under pressure.

But there was one anxious moment in the early stages, when the ball bounced off Ampadu and hit his own hand, but although their players were asking for a penalty, under current guidelines the referee was correct to turn them down, as the rebound was too quick for Ampadu to have done anything about it.

At the other end a ball from Aaronson sent Prioe into the box, but his shot lacked to the power or direction to cause Selvik any great difficulty. The Watford defence were working hard to get their blocks in whenever we came forward, until they undid all their good work on 20 minutes, when Kayembe turned and blindly played a pass across the field, without spotting that Dan James was far too close.

The Welshman gleefully accepted the gift, racing through to shoot past Selvik. And were two up eight minutes later, with a lightning quick break downfield after Aaornson took possession as a Watford attack broke down. His pass set Piroe free, and the Dutchman decided that James was more likely to outpace the sole remaining defender.

James raced through, and though I thought for a second he’d put it over the bar, his shot actually crashed into the roof of the net. But before we started to get too comfortable, Sissoko reminded us that the game was not yet one as he broke into the area, only for Meslier to confound his critics with a fine save.

And if we did need a third goal to make the game safe, it arrived on 35 minutes, as Solomon cut in from the left to the edge of the area, with his shot taking a deflection that game Selvik no chance. And shortly before the break James came forward, and with two players closing him down decided that his best option was to attempt to lob Selvik from at least 40 yards. It would have been spectacular, but it curled just past the post.

It was a bit surprising to learn that the stats gave Watford more of the possession in the first half, but most of it was in areas of the field where they were never going to do any damage, with our well-drilled side denying them the chance to make much progress as they came downfield. On the hour mark they made a triple change to try to get back into the game, with Tom Ince getting some predictable abuse because of his family connection.

So the part Ince played in our fourth goal was all the more hilarious, chasing after Tanaka like a lost puppy as the Japanese international completed a full circle, before laying the ball off to James. He then slipped the ball to Piroe, and the Dutchman’s excellent footwork took him past two defenders in a crowded area, before rolling the ball past Selvik.

We could have piled even more embarrassment onto Watford as James dragged a shot just wide, but with 15 minutes left it was time for the changing of the wingers, as Daniel Farke decided it was time to give a few players a break. The next changes saw Rothwell and Joseph on for Tamak and Prioe, before Struik replaced Ampadu right at the end. And finally Watford came to live as they went in search of a consolation.

Chakvetadze’s shot cannoned off the bar, and three Leeds players needed treatment after colliding with each other in their efforts to keep it out. Thankfully Meslier recovered quickly enough to make another fine save, this time from Louza. It was too little too late from the home side, and after five minutes injury time the referee put them out of their misery with the final whistle.

After the game our manager did of course praise his team, but told the BBC he had a little sympathy for his opposite number. "We started on the front foot with good chances but I have to say that Watford also had good situations in the first 10 minutes. They are a good side who are dangerous on the counter-attack so it was important for us to score the first goa”l.

"I'm not sure the 4-0 reflects how difficult this game was because I really like how Tom [Cleverley] sets up his team. I think he is doing an excellent job here and it was difficult to take possession away from them. I predict not many teams will leave here with three points so I am pretty happy with the win and the scoreline and clean sheet.”

"But we were really excellent in executing our counter-attacks and the fourth goal was poetry in motion. You would have to say the individual performance of the players up front was of a top level. If we perform like this our offensive row is unplayable at times." The result temporarily out us five points clear, but all three of our main rivals were to win their games tonight.

Though you could say as we were the only team out of the four to be away from home, this win definitely takes us a step closer to promotion. The way we are playing at the moment we look unstoppable, so what could possibly go wrong?

reuters

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