Even though the odds were stacked against us before kick-off and we had nothing to play for, we still have our reputation as pantomime villains to keep up and we sure did this on Saturday in the cultural capital of Hertfordshire.

Granted Watford may have made a couple of enemies with their rule-bending use of the loan system, but they are largely recognised as a nice little provincial club on the outskirts of London who would not look amiss in the Premiership.

Unfortunately the stench of squeaky bums on the Humber has even took away the usual pungent aroma of rotting fish over the KC Stadium and like the contest to decide whether Hull or Watford have the uglier manager, the second promotion place also was undecided.

However a signal that it may not be either sides' day came when Hornet's keeper Alumunia was injured in the pre-match warm-up so rookie Jonathan Bond stepped up for a day he will never forget...for all the wrong reasons.

Leeds also cursed their luck when young Zac Thompson was ruled ineligible as technically he was still on loan at Bury, Michael Brown took his place and picked up his customary booking.

Whilst poor Thompson could only look on and curse his misfortune, another youngster who spent some time down at Gigg Lane in Dominic Poleon got his chance when Steve Morison took a blow to the head. Bond sustained a more serious blow to the head and alas for Gianfranco Zola, his plundering of the Pozzo family employee network has not extended to bringing in a half decent keeper so he had to turn to some young lad called Jack Bonham.

Bonham was in part at fault for the opener, gobbled up by a grateful Poleon on 42 minutes when Bonham collided with Joel Elkstrand leaving the Leeds youngster to tap the ball into an open net.

However with an astonishing 16 minutes of injury time, the hosts drew level, Anya provided an opening for Abdi to stun Paddy Kenny with a 20-yard drive.

Bond's misfortune would surely give Watford an advantage over events at the KC as the second half had kicked off on Humberside by the time the half-time tea had been served in Hertfordshire?

However they would have to do it the hard way when Deeney was red-carded for clattering into Michael Brown, a challenge the Leeds player would have surely approved of if he had been the giver rather than receiver.

Ooop north and even a favour from Watford's much beloved former boss Malky Mackay was ultimately in vain, as news filtered through that Cardiff had held Hull to a 2-2 draw thanks to a late Nicky Maynard penalty, the home fans roared on their troops to find a late winner.

However they did not reckon for Paddy Kenny. Kenny, like Brown seemingly one of "Warnock's Children" has divided opinion amongst Leeds fans as some feeling he is inferior to Jamie Ashdown and in semi-retirement in his native Yorkshire. Others feel he is the best goalkeeper in the Championship and he showed Watfordthe kind of keeping they will have to search hard for as they face the play-offs with a fine double save from Abdi's initial shot and Chalobah's follow-up.

Then to rub salt in Watford wounds, Leeds broke quickly, Aidy White delivered a slide rule pass to McCormack who faced Bonham one on one and chipped the young keeper with embarrassing ease.

Atonement for Cardiff 2006 partially delivered! I have never really forgiven Watford for that dark, dark day in May in the Welsh capital seven years ago. Their unflinching almost franchising of football will hopefully backfire and we shall see them again next season as I do not fancy them beating Leicester next week on this evidence!

Photo: Action Images

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