Leeds move a step closer to main goal

Leeds United have rediscovered the art of winning with an impeccable sense of timing. Although seldom illuminating, they did enough to eclipse Watford at Elland Road last night en route to a possible Champions League place.

An ultimately comfortable victory, albeit with some decidedly uncomfortable moments, was instigated by Michael Bridges' 20th goal of the season and although Dominic Foley had the audacity to equalise, Michael Duberry's first goal since November 1996 and Darren Huckerby's first in six months saw Leeds run out deserved winners.

With Liverpool floundering, if David O'Leary's side win their remaining two matches they can expect to join Manchester United and Arsenal in European football's premier competition next season.

Watford's demotion had been a foregone conclusion long before their fate was actually sealed, and even though they will depart with clear consciences there will be an ignominious footnote attached to their brief flirtation with the domestic game's most demanding and unforgiving tier.

Ipswich's haul of 27 points in 1994-95 is the record low for a Premiership season but Graham Taylor's team have been threatening to plunder that dubious honour for longer than those of a charitable disposition would care to remember.

Leeds had not triumphed on home soil since March 19th but their early hesitancies evaporated, for a short time at least, when Bridges capitalised on some loose marking from Stephen McPhail's 19th-minute corner to score with a right-foot shot from the perimeter of the penalty area.

For all their deficiencies, however, Taylor's players are victims of their own limitations rather than any lack of endeavour and within six minutes they had equalised.

David Perpetuini manoeuvred space on the left and his deep cross was nodded down by Heidar Helguson for Foley to lash a low shot beyond Nigel Martyn despite the close proximity of several defenders.

Only a fine save from Martyn prevented Foley from earning a few more brownie points and it was somewhat against the run of play when Duberry restored the hosts' advantage late in the first half. McPhail was the instigator again with a clipped free-kick and Duberry took advantage of some obliging defending to ram his shot into the roof of the net from close range.

If that was tough on Watford, any sense of grievance was dissipated seven minutes after the interval when Huckerby flummoxed Robert Page with a couple of neat shimmies and curled an exquisite right-foot shot into the opposite corner.

Leeds United: Martyn; Kelly, Radebe (Woodgate, half-time), Duberry, Mills; Bakke, McPhail, Bowyer, Kewell; Bridges, Huckerby (Smith 80 min).

Watford: Day; Cox, Page, Ward, Robinson; Foley (Mooney 66), Palmer, Hyde, Perpetuini; Helguson (Wooter 66), Smith.

Referee: P Alcock (Kent).