Watford's implosion continues as league leaders Leeds make themselves at home

Watford (0) 0

Leeds United (3) 4 James 20, 28, Solomon 35, Piroe 62

Watford somehow remain in touch with the play-off places, but no-one is going to take much comfort from that after they were swept aside so contemptuously by a rampant Leeds.

It's now one win in ten in the Championship, and five home defeats on the bounce - baffling given their early-season at the Vic. But if the Hornets are still in the bottle-neck jostling just outside the top six, their form and confidence looks drained.

This was a game that could have jolted the misfiring yellow and red men back into life, especially after a decent 2-2 draw at Sunderland at the weekend. Instead, they were outclassed by a team showing infinitely more pace, precision and energy.

This was a Leeds team unbeaten in 13 Championship games, who are so focused on making it back to the top flight and atoning for last season's play-off final defeat, that boss Daniel Farke tanked the FA Cup clash with Millwall at the weekend with this game in mind - fielding an under-strength team that was duly eliminated.

His gambit paid off handsomely.

Imran Louza and Edo Kayembe both had early strikes but slick early incursions from the confident league leaders pointed to the way this one was likely to go.

Their fans were in no doubt and were in terrific voice, mocking the Hornets' percussion beat attempts to stoke up an atmosphere. "We're Leeds United, we don't need a drum," they chanted.

Their team looked as if it had goals aplenty in it. Joel Piroe was soon set up for a great chance he hit tamely at Norwegian keeper Egil Selvik - one of two men new to Vicarage Road, with striker Mamadou Doumbia also making his first home start.

Neither will look back too fondly on this one. Doumbia was ineffective and hooked in the second half while Selvik was left exposed by an error-prone defence and a midfield lacking the necessary guile to stave off lightning raids from the fleet-footed visitors.

Leeds were gifted the lead after 20 minutes when a stray pass from Kayembe played Dan James into an inviting space outside the area and the Welshman was in no mood to pass up the opportunity, clipping the ball smartly past Selvik's right hand.

Moments later and the lead doubled as Brenden Aaronson set Piroe free and his well-weighted ball across to the right gave James more room to exploit and he raced on to fire emphatically into the roof of the net.

Skipper Moussa Sissoko almost reduced the lead with an angled shot that was well saved by Ilan Meslier in the Leeds goal but more poor defending from a throw-in on the left gave Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon the chance to dart in from left to right before sending a shot at goal that deflected wickedly off Mattie Pollock to find the bottom corner. When your luck's in....

James had his eye-in big time and when he spotted another opportunity from near half way, he darted forward for a first time shot, seeing Selvik off his line. The execution was just a bit off this time.

Tom Cleverley made a triple substitution on the hour but it didn't do his side much good as they struggled to put together any attacks of note and after Ao Tanaka had spun around a defender inside the box, Piroe had the composure to side-step his marker and drill low across Selvik to make it four.

There could and should have been many more, with a repeat of their recent 7-0 drubbing of Cardiff only avoided thanks to some profligate finishing. Leeds seemed to enjoy creating chances even more than putting them away.

There was not even a late consolation to be had for Watford as Giorgi Chakvetadze thumped a great chance onto the top of the crossbar and Louza had a shot turned over at the death by an acrobatic Meslier.

Next up at the Vic is Luton. They will be desperate to avoid extending their run of home losses in that one - regardless of what it means to their play-off hopes. More modest ambitions are on their minds right now.

Hornets: (4-2-3-1) Selvik - Andrews, Abankwah, Pollock (Keben 80), Ngakia (Larouchi 59) - Louza, Dele-Bashiru (Nabizada 72) - Sissoko (Ince 59), Kayembe, Chakvetadze - Doumbia (Vata 59)

Leeds: (4-2-3-1) Meslier - Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu (Struijk 86), Firpo - Tanaka (Rothwell 81), Gruev - James (Gnonto 77), Aaronson, Solomon (Ramazani 77) - Piroe (Joseph 81)

Attendance: 19,582