Blake stings Hornets

Leeds United 2 Watford 1

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

But goalkeeper Ben Foster conceded a penalty and was shown a straight red card. Robbie 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.

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 Sheffield United.

Watford took the lead five minutes before the break when Gregan clumsily fouled King 20 yards from goal. Young stepped up to fire home the resultant free-kick for his 13th goal of the season.

Leeds upped the tempo in the second half 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 and Blake dispatched the penalty.

Henderson was then dismissed before Blake fired home the winner with nine minutes remaining.

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

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

Referee: M Jones (W Yorkshire).