Leeds cruised to a comfortable win over relegated Watford to greatly improve theirchances of a Champions League place next season.

Leicester’s simultaneous 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield boosts the Elland Road outfit to third in the Premiership. The home side went ahead through a Michael Bridges strike after 20 minutes, but Watford fought back in style to equalise through Dominic Foley. Michael Duberry struck a vital second on the stroke of half-time to restore Leeds’ advantage, then Darren Huckerby conjured a superb solo effort to wrap the match up after the interval. Watford continue to play like a team fighting relegation rather than already consigned to the drop and they made most of the early running. But it was the home side that produced the first tangible chance when Huckerby broke down the right and crossed for Bridges, who sent the ball over the crossbar. He made no such mistake with his next opportunity when Stephen McPhail’s cross found its way to Bridges and the striker hit a swinging piledriver from top left edge of the area that ended in the back of the net. Leeds enjoyed the advantage for exactly five minutes before a bit of Watford adventure brought the two sides back to level terms. Leeds began to dominate in terms of both possession and territory and it was a telling statistics that Watford had to wait until after the hour for their first shot on goal, a tame strike by Helguson.