Carlisle rescues Leeds after Dyer's double

By Dan Murphy

Two goals from Bruce Dyer helped Watford extend their sequence of draws to nine in 11 games and deny Leeds United a place in the top half of the Championship at Elland Road last night.

Two goals from Bruce Dyer helped Watford extend their sequence of draws to nine in 11 games and deny Leeds United a place in the top half of the Championship at Elland Road last night.

After Jermaine Wright had cancelled out Dyer's opener, it was Leeds who looked the more likely to find a winner. But with 20 minutes to go Sean Gregan's backpass deflected off Paul Butler and Dyer advanced on goal before beating Neil Sullivan with ease.

Clarke Carlisle provided Leeds' second equaliser with six minutes to go, heading Wright's cross into the bottom corner.

Watford went ahead within 10 minutes. Heidar Helguson's intelligent run down the right took him beyond the Leeds defence and he was able to find Dyer in the middle, who side-footed home from eight yards.

Wright equalised when Watford failed to deal with Butler's long ball. When the ball broke to the former Ipswich Town midfielder, he shot low into the bottom corner.

Leeds should have gone ahead before half time. John Oster provided the tempting cross, but Brian Deane's header was not of a similar quality.

The same could be said of Brynjar Gunnarsson moments later for Watford, as he scooped Jack Smith's cross into the stand when well placed.

Leeds started the second half in lackadaisical fashion but still should have gone ahead when Healy took up the ball following Julian Joachim's flick-on. His shot from inside the area, though, was wild. The final 30 minutes were just as frantic.

Leeds United (4-1-2-3): Sullivan; Kelly, Carlisle, Butler, Pugh; Gregan; Wright, Walton; Oster, Deane (Joachim, h-t), Healy. Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Spring, Lennon, Kilgallon.

Watford (4-4-2): Lee; Smith, Cox, Dyche, Darlington; Chambers, Gunnarsson, Mahon, Ardley; Helguson, Dyer (Fitzgerald, 87). Substitutes not used: Chamberlain (gk); Gayle, Young, Demerit.

Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).