Leeds United stretched their unbeaten run to four matches with a 3-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road. Raphinha set the ball rolling for the Whites as his superb finish from the edge of the area found its way in off the post.
After a nervy first 25 minutes of the second half, Rodrigo Moreno put the game beyond the reach of the home side as he took advantage of an error at the back. Jack Harrison then added a third late on for Leeds to net his seventh goal of 2022 and his third in as many games.
Leeds are now nine points clear of the bottom three ahead of Burnley’s trip to Norwich City later today, the first of three games in hand for the Clarets. Here is how the national media reported the win for Jesse Marsch’s side.
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‘A huge step to Premier League safety’
Ian Herbert of the Daily Mail said: “Rarely has the ironic anthem ‘Leeds are falling apart again’ been delivered with greater fervour. It was first used by rivals as a form of derision eight years ago, during the club’s long struggle to reach the Premier League, but it was reclaimed by a raucous away end after Leeds had kept it together and taken a huge step to Premier League safety.
“It was neither a game nor a winning performance to live long in the memory, yet a reminder that Leeds have bought some exceptional players for remarkable prices these past few years - and that they might well prove the difference in this brutally difficult season.
“Raphinha, a steal at £17million, began things with a wonderful strike. Jack Harrison, extraordinary value for £11million, wrapped it all up with something similar. His name rang around out from the away end by the end.
“The slams of anger on the steel back of the main stand were testament to a Watford fan base who know that the quality is simply not there and that time is up on another fleeting venture into the Premier League.”
‘Raphinha underlined his value to Leeds’
Ed Elliot of the Independent said: “Raphinha underlined his value to Leeds as Jesse Marsch’s men took a significant step towards Premier League survival with a 3-0 win which pushed Watford closer to relegation.
“The Brazilian – who has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Barcelona – stylishly ended a six-game goal drought to set his side on course for a vital three points at Vicarage Road.
“In-form duo Rodrigo and Jack Harrison capitalised on some calamitous Hornets defending to seal victory as the West Yorkshire club moved nine points clear of the drop zone.
“The beleaguered Hornets had little answer as they slipped to a ninth successive home loss for the first time since the 1971-72 campaign.
“Roy Hodgson’s second-bottom hosts are now six points from safety following Everton’s surprise victory over Manchester United and face a major salvage operation to prevent an immediate return to the Championship.”
‘Within touching distance of safety’
Matthew Howarth of BBC Sport said: “Watford manager Roy Hodgson will have taken heart from his side's spirited display against Liverpool last weekend but, as was the case at Anfield, the Hornets were undone by poor finishing against the Whites and now find themselves six points adrift of safety with seven matches left to play.
“They had the better chances before Raphinha's well-taken opener, Louza sending a curling free-kick inches wide before Illan Meslier got his fingertips to Hernandez's inswinging cross-shot from the left.
“Sarr was also thwarted by Meslier after racing on to Emmanuel Dennis' raking pass, but his effort would not have counted as he was in an offside position.
“The Senegal winger missed an even better opportunity in the second half with the score at 1-0, sending a wild strike past Meslier's left-hand post - an effort which sums up Watford's plight.
“Hodgson will be furious at the manner of Leeds' second goal, as Kamara's attempted clearance was deflected into Rodrigo's path by Samir, allowing the Spaniard to round Foster and calmly slide into an empty net.
“The visitors, who kept their first clean sheet in 18 Premier League matches at Vicarage Road, put the seal on a vital victory five minutes from time when Harrison drilled an unstoppable shot past Foster for his third goal in as many games.
“The win puts Leeds within touching distance of safety, but Watford's prospects look bleak after slipping to a ninth consecutive home defeat.”
