LUFC Memory match: Watford 1-2 Leeds 1999/00

Watford 1-2 Leeds Sunday October 3rd 1999
Attendance: 19,677

This weeks memory match looks back on Leeds trip to Vicarage Road in the 1999/00 season when the Whites were setting the pace in the Premier League.

The Hornets had recently been promoted to the Premier League and despite sitting in the bottom half of the table after nine games; they had already beaten Liverpool away and Chelsea at home.

Leeds were on the heels of Manchester United at the top of the table and went into the game on the back of four straight wins in the league.

With Manchester United in action later that day at Chelsea, David O`Leary`s side knew that victory would put them top of the table for at least a couple of hours.

In a very tight first half, the game sprung into life inside the final three minutes of the half.

Leeds were temporarily down to ten men after an injury to influential defender Lucas Radebe saw him receiving treatment off the pitch.

The man extra proved vital for the home side, following a free kick into the area for Watford the ball eventually fell to Mark Williams who had time to turn and shoot past Nigel Martyn.

The turning point of the game came in the final minute of the half; Michael Bridges had joined Leeds in the summer from Sunderland and he continued his great start to the season with his seventh goal in twelve games.

Bridges chested the ball down just outside the Watford area before drilling his volley past the helpless Alec Chamberlain in the Watford goal.

Leeds looked much the better side in the second half with Woodgate causing the Watford defence problems from set pieces whilst Bridges continued to look a threat.

The goal that eventually won the game came with twenty minutes remaining, when Harry Kewell tried his luck from thirty yards.

Kewell`s long-range effort looked food and drink for Chamberlain in the Watford goal but the experienced keeper somehow allowed the ball to go past him and into the net.

The win sent Leeds to the top of the table and with nearest rivals Manchester United being hammered at Chelsea 5-0 later in the day, the Whites sat at the top of the Premier League table after ten games with twenty-two points.

Teams

Watford:
Chamberlain, Lyttle (Gibbs 45), Williams, Page, Kennedy (Easton 80), Robinson, Hyde, Palmer, Foley (Miller 69), Ngonge, Wooter
Subs Not Used:
Wright, Day.

Goals:
Williams 42.


Leeds:
Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate, Radebe (Mills 42), Harte, Bakke, Batty, Hopkin (Haaland 86), Kewell, Smith, Bridges (Huckerby 69)

Subs Not Used:
Robinson, Jones.

Goals:
Bridges 45, Kewell 70.

Referee: Andy Durso (Billericay).



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