Key events
45+1 min: Three minutes are added on to a half that has come alive in the last 15.
Dennis dances down the right, chops the ball into the box, toys with Liam Cooper, pulling off the stepovers before shaping the ball onto his left foot to curl into the bottom corner past Meslier. A sublime goal.
GOAL! Leeds 1-2 Watford (Dennis 44)
And they’re back in front!
44 min: Pollock gets a head on it for Watford but is falling as he does, with the ball looping nicely for Meslier to easily collect.
43 min: Asprilla has space to drive forward and laces a low shot that is deflected out for a corner …
42 min: Lewis, lively down the left for Watford, whips yet another cross into the box that Leeds just about deal with.
40 min: Lewis breaks forward for Watford and nearly slides the ball in for Bayo to latch onto inside the box … Cooper is there in time to clear it out for a corner.
Leeds needed that desperately and what a stunner this is. Summerville has the ball out on the left, one-on-one with Andrews. He cuts inside into the box and curls it beautifully into the top right corner. A gorgeous, gorgeous finish that makes up for Leeds’ lacklustre performance so far.
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Leeds (Summerville 37)
Wow.
36 min: Leeds continue to play awry passes, with James getting a simple ball to Bamford wrong.
34 min: Ampadu’s loose touch from a Meslier pass nearly costs Leeds big time – Dennis is pretty much through for a one-on-one but Rodon comes to the rescue with a terrific sliding challenge. Leeds need to wake up.
GOAL! Watford 1-0 Leeds (Bayo 31)
Byram intercepts in the middle for Leeds but is then brushed off the ball by Kayembe who sets up the attack. Lewis then plays Asprilla the ball on the left, who then cuts back into the box for Dennis to shoot … Meslier pulls off a fine save but Bayo volleys in the rebound with serious power.
29 min: Bamford drops deep to get on the ball and pull off a nice turn to outwit his marker.
28 min: Dennis has looked a bit of a menace so far (forgive me), trying to cause Leeds problems on the right.
27 min: Watford have a corner from the left, their umpteenth so far, and Leeds clear it well.
26 min: Rutter is hurt by Porteous in the middle of the pitch and, I’ll level with you, this game hasn’t been all that pretty so far.
23 min: Ampadu feeds the driving Byram, who finds Summerville … who is offside.
22 min: Bamford has had just a couple of touches so far, with the Leeds centre forward yet to get into the game.
21 min: Byram has space out on the left for Leeds, with Summerville continuing to look for pockets to pick up the ball in and cut inside.
19 min: Watford have a corner after a cross from the left is blocked … there’s a foul in the box and Leeds have a free-kick.
18 min: Leeds are finally finding their flow, with Rutter firing a cross in from the left before Summerville tries to dance his way around the edge of the box to let a shot fly – Watford shirts surround him to halt any potential damage.
16 min: Elton is in the house. And here comes a Rocket from my Man (forced, I know) Summerville, nearly curling the ball into the bottom right corner. Bachmann pulls off a fine save to tip it round the post. The corner doesn’t cause Watford any trouble.
14 min: Sierralta cleans up nicely at the back for Watford, who have begun stronger here. But as I type, James picks up the ball and turns on the jet-pack, skipping through with his electric pace before getting floored by a yellow-and-black shirt. No foul given, and the show goes on.
12 min: Dennis spins brilliantly in midfield to drive forward and play a ball out to the right to Andrews. The cross into the box is low and Asprilla goes down under a challenge from Ampadu! There’s an appeal for a penalty but it doesn’t go Watford’s way.
10 min: Leeds finally find themselves in Watford’s half, with James finding a bit of space to drive through the middle. Bamford can’t nail the return ball for the one-two to the Welshman, however, ending a promising attack.
8 min: … And now a corner from the left, with Byram putting it out for Leeds. It’s cleared away but Meslier then gets a kick all wrong to let Watford attack once again, although Dennis’ ball slides out for a goalkick.
7 min: Andrews helps Watford win a corner out on the right …
5 min: Rather turgid at the moment, with the first bit of drama a little scuffle between Kayembe and Summerville. The Leeds winger wasn’t best pleased by Kayembe’s pressure, with Summerville shoving the Watford man after winning a foul.
4 min: Watford press up high to disrupt Leeds as the visitors try to play out from the back, with Ampadu operating in midfield.
3 min: Watford dominate the early possession, sliding their passes from right to left.
2 min: Rodon cuts off a Watford attack down the left before Dennis tries to drive into the box for the hosts.
Peep!
Watford in black and yellow, Leeds in all white. Elton John plays in the background and then comes the whistle. Let’s play!
OK, the players are on their way out – we’ll be up and running pretty soon.
Daniel Farke is asked about the Wales trio in his XI and how they’re doing – “That’s sport, you have to deal with some disappointment.” He’s more concerned with the injuries his squad are dealing with, with the important Willy Gnonto and Ilia Gruev among the names missing today.
And it’s all over at Ewood Park, with Ipswich winning 1-0 to go top of the Championship table. Leeds will have to win tonight to go back to No 1.
Here’s everything that’s been happening elsewhere in the Champo. Ipswich are still 1-0 up against Blackburn, with not long left.
Of course, worth noting that there are a few names in that Leeds line-up who suffered heartbreak during the internationals: Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Dan James all featured in Wales’ playoff loss to Poland, with James missing in the penalty shootout. A tough one to get over, sure, but Rodon and Ampadu have been a sparkling pair at the back together while James has 12 goals this season. Here’s to what’s next.
The teams
Here they are …
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to coverage of Leeds United’s trip to Watford. It’s all going rather well for the boys from Elland Road, having gone 13 games unbeaten in the league, 12 of those wins, overturning Leicester’s 17-point lead at the top in the process. Wild.
Meanwhile Watford have been doing what Watford do best: sacking the boss. Valérien Ismaël is their latest managerial departure, with Tom Cleverley in as interim – that’s one to make you feel old. Cleverley began his stint in charge with a 1-0 win over Birmingham but his first game at Vicarage Road isn’t going to be easy. Leeds won the reverse fixture earlier in the season 3-0 and Daniel Farke seems to love winning the Championship; he won’t settle for stopping at 13.
Kick-off is at 8pm GMT (BST, can’t wait to see you boo). Drop me a line with your thoughts, worries, weekend plans, whatever. Cheers!
