Leeds crushed by rampant Watford

FT: Leeds 0 Watford 3

Watford completed a remarkable season by clinching a place in the Barclays Premiership today by crushing Leeds in a match worth an estimated £40m (€59m) to the winner.

Goals from Jay DeMerit and James Chambers and a late penalty from Darius Henderson ensured Adrian Boothroyd’s team prevailed in today’s Coca-Cola Championship play-off final – and condemned Leeds to a third successive season outside the top flight.

Leeds never got going until after half-time, and the closest they came to scoring was when Shaun Derry’s header midway through the second period was cleared off the line by Chambers.

As Leeds pushed forward in search of the goal that would get them back into the match, it was inevitable gaps would appear in their defence.

Following one swift break, Spring cracked a shot goalwards from eight yards that Sullivan was forced to push around his near post.

Shortly afterwards, King sent a free-kick just over after Kelly had obstructed Spring just outside the box, and Lewis was forced to head off the Leeds line after Malky Mackay had nodded goalwards.

Watford sealed their spot in the top flight seven minutes from time when referee Dean ruled that Derry had fouled King inside the penalty area, and Henderson stroked the spot-kick into Sullivan’s bottom-right corner.