Leeds 0-3 Watford: Watford back in Premiership
Watford completed their fairytale turnaround at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as goals from Jay DeMerit, a Neil Sullivan own goal and Darius Henderson accounted for disappointing Leeds in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final.
The Hornets were installed as third favourites for relegation at the start of the season and the appointment of Adrian Boothroyd as boss in March 2005 did little to appease frustrated fans.
But 14 months on the Bradford-born 35-year-old has worked a minor miracle, lifting the club from the depths of the Championship and into the Barclays Premiership in his first full season as a manager.
He will, quite literally, be the Premiership's new kid on the block.
American defender DeMerit's far post header gave Watford a 25th-minute lead.
Chambers enjoyed a lucky deflection off Eddie Lewis before the ball hit the post and went in off Sullivan to increase their lead in the 55th minute.
Then Henderson rounded off his side's stunning season with an 83rd-minute penalty.
Slick and well-drilled, each of Boothroyd's players looked well versed in their own roles, while in contrast Leeds at times looked lost.
Paul Butler deflected Henderson's header from Ashley Young's second-minute corner over the crossbar, while Shaun Derry's left-foot shot from just inside the Watford penalty area hit Lloyd Doyley's outstretched leg.
Watford then forced two quick corners and made the second one count to take the lead in the 25th minute when centre-half DeMerit barged his way past Hulse onto the end of Young's left-wing corner to head beyond Leeds goalkeeper Sullivan.
Sean Gregan was booked soon after for appearing to flick an arm into Henderson's face, although the Watford striker, sent off at Elland Road in February, made the most of it.
The opening goal, which came without warning, rattled Leeds, the back four looking jittery from Jordan Stewart's in-swinging free-kick not long after.
Gregan could not get power nor direction on his header from Gary Kelly's free-kick and, as Leeds enjoyed their best spell towards half-time, Derry's shot rolled harmlessly into Ben Foster's hands.
Lewis went close with a 25-yard free-kick which curled over the crossbar following Gavin Mahon's foul on Derry, but Leeds were left chasing the game at half-time.
Blackwell responded by replacing the ineffective Richardson with Robbie Blake and switching to a four-four-two system, while Watford gave early indication of their intentions when Doyley was booked for time-wasting in the 51st minute.
Henderson's left-footed half volley forced Sullivan into a fine one-handed save, while Leeds still lacked Watford's incisiveness.
Leeds were then dealt a cruel blow in the 55th minute when Chambers' tame shot in the penalty area following Mahon's long throw took a wicked deflection off Lewis' boot and spun over Sullivan before hitting the post and ricocheting off the prone Leeds goalkeeper's shoulder and trickling over the goalline.
David Healy immediately replaced Miller and the Northern Ireland international soon tested Foster, racing onto Blake's clever dummy and forcing the Watford goalkeeper to save low down to his left.
Gregan failed to keep his header down from Lewis' free-kick and Derry's header was cleared off the line by Chambers as Leeds at last gathered some momentum.
Lewis' rasping drive was then well held by Foster, but Watford were not content to sit back, Spring's fierce near-post shot beaten away for a corner by Sullivan.
Leeds looked forlorn enough with the score at 2-0 but shoulders dropped in the 83rd minute when Henderson stepped up to side-foot home from the spot after Derry appeared to have clipped King's foot in the area.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=197696&cc=5901
So, the Hornets are going up. I'll be glad to have two teams to support in Premiership next season. How about you guys?
As a bonus, a Yank scored the winning goal...and Leeds are stuck in the Championship for another year.
:boohoo:
