Football is a results game, as they say, and Leeds United picked up another one of those as Manor Solomon, Joel Piroe and two-goal Dan James put Watford to the sword at Vicarage Road.
Like it was against Cardiff City earlier this month, the game was all-but over as a contest at half-time.
Dan James had already scored twice by that point – the Welshman reaching double figures for the Championship campaign – while Manor Solomon added another scintillating performance to his ever-growing collection with a deflected drive from long-range with just 35 minutes on the clock.
According to the Tottenham loanee himself, however, the very lopsided scoreline perhaps flatters the visitors.
Manor Solomon credited Leeds’ backline for keeping Watford out. Twenty clean sheets in 32 league matches now. Illan Meslier pulled off a ‘world-class’ save at Coventry last week. There was nothing quite so spectacular this time but the Frenchman, under fire not so long ago, did have to react smartly to keep Moussa Sissoko off the scoresheet.
Edo Kayembe also had a fierce volley deflected wide by Joe Rodon at 0-0, while Watford enjoyed much of the possession in the opening stages.
So while the eventual 4-0 away win may paint the picture of a Leeds United side dominant from the first whistle to the last, Solomon feels that this was a performance as much built upon character and resilience than class and ruthlessness.
Manor Solomon claims 4-0 Watford win flatters Leeds United
“I am really happy with the win,” Solomon smiled, another Eden Hazard tribute act from a weaving winger making child’s play of Championship defences. “[Watford are] a strong side. The ones who didn’t watch the game will maybe think it was an easy game but it clearly wasn’t.
“We played against very tough opponents, [who were] really good on the ball. A really physical side. We managed to exploit the counter attacks.”
Leeds 2-1 victory over Watford earlier in the campaign was pretty much the opposite in terms of the narrative.
While Leeds grew into Tuesday’s 4-0 hammering in Hertfordshire after a somewhat sluggish start, they flew out of the blocks against the same opponents in October – Brenden Aaronson and Largie Ramazani scored inside seven minutes – before spending much of the second-half hanging on once Kwadwo Baah had halved the deficit.
Farke was relieved to avoid a similarly nervy finish four months on, while throwing his weight behind the under-pressure Cleverley.
Daniel Farke delighted as Leeds do the double over Tom Cleverley’s Watford
“It was actually a much tighter game than the result [suggests]. I liked the way Tom set up his team. Its not easy to take possession away from them,” Farke says, Leeds averaging only 39 per cent of the ball on the night but wreaking havoc on the counter-attack.
“They have good players and I predict not many teams will travel away from here with three points.
They are pretty physical, robust side. They have pace, quality and are capable winning one-vs-one against us.
“It was a tight game in the beginning. Then, we got more and more control. The result doesn’t reflect this. [Watford] are an excellent side.
“Not many teams will win here in the coming weeks and months.”
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