Anthony Backhouse has only refereed one Leeds United game in his career and it ended in a 3-0 defeat at Elland Road

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United are in action on Tuesday evening as Daniel Farke’s side welcome Watford to Elland Road in the club’s 11th Championship clash of the 2024-25 campaign.

Leeds come into the game against Tom Cleverley’s side in good form. Unbeaten in five, Leeds have picked up 11 points from a possible 15 and it should have been 13 had it not been for Illan Meslier’s mistake.

A 2-0 win over Sheffield United righted that wrong last time out, as Meslier kept his sixth clean sheet from 10 Championship games. Leeds sit in third, three points better off than last term and three places higher.

Daniel Farke confirmed there are no new injuries ahead of Watford’s visit, with Wilfried Gnonto’s shoulder knock only bruising and the Italian is available. But, there is concern in the form of the referee appointed.

• READ MORE: Barry Douglas predicts England call-up for player that left Leeds in 2022

Anthony Backhouse has only refereed one Leeds United game

Backhouse has been promoted to Championship level over the last couple of years but has never actually donned the black kit and whistle for a league game that involved Leeds. But one, in the Carabao Cup.

Indeed, Backhouse was the man in the middle earlier in August for Leeds’ 3-0 hammering by Luke Ayling and Middlesbrough at Elland Road in the Carabao Cup. Georginio Rutter’s last-ever outing for the club.

A game that saw Leeds completely demolished and go from conceding three goals in the first game to six after two. But one that also seemed to kick Leeds into gear, conceding four goals in the next nine games.

Leeds record vs Watford is solid, but Daniel Farke’s not so much

If only the last four meetings between the two sides are considered, Leeds have a brilliant record against The Hornets. Three straight wins against Watford before the latest clash, a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road.

So, four wins apiece and two draws from the last 10 meetings. But for Farke, it is a different story ahead of his eighth career match against Watford on Tuesday night. Last season’s 3-0 win was his first vs Watford.

The win ended a five-game losing streak against Watford, with the draw the first share of the spoils in his career against Watford. A win, a draw and five losses with all five defeats coming as Norwich City gaffer.