UNITED 3 (Pugh 50, Smith 56, McCormack 79), WATFORD 3 (Deeney 12, 86, Battocchio 45+1).

United: Kenny, Peltier, Zaliukas, Pearce, Pugh, Byram, Mowatt, Murphy, Austin, McCormack, Smith. Subs. Cairns, Drury, Warnock, Brown, Tonge, Varney, Poleon.

Watford: Bond, Bellerin, Ekstrand, Battocchio (Hall 90), McGugan (Murray 66), Pudil, Faraoni (Cassetti 73), Anya, Thorne, Nosworthy, Deeny. Subs. Forestieri, Fabbrini, Iriney, Woods.

Referee: T Keetle

Booked: Pugh (Leeds), Ekstrand (Watford).

Att: 23,445

United manager made one change to his side as he went in search of a six successive home league victory. The change was an enforced one with Sam Byram coming in for the injured Tom Lees. The starting line-up would see Lee Peltier move into the back three with Byram operating at right wing-back.

It took United just three minutes to create their first chance on goal when the front two combined well. Ross McCormack created save on the left hand side and crossed for Matt Smith whose headed effort was held by Jonathan Bond.

Moments later McCormack was the provider once again when he whipped a dangerous looking free-kick into the box but Marius Zaliukas could only head over the crossbar.

The away side made a chance of their own as the 10 minute mark approached through Troy Deeney but, like Zaliukas before him, he could only head over the bar.

The chances kept coming in what was a fast paced start to the game. Rudy Austin was released on the right thanks to a great through ball but his strike was stopped by Bond and the rebound was blasted over by Luke Murphy.

United keeper Paddy Kenny proved his quality once again as he denied Ikechi Anya with a great save. But Kenny could do nothing about Deeney's effort in the 12th minute when the striker put the away side one goal up. The forward was set-up after Lewis McGugan mazed his way through the United penalty area and put the ball into his path and Deeney struck with a good first-time finish.

Deeney's goal slowed the pace of the game but there were still opportunities being created by both sides. Peltier saw a headed attempt go wide while Austin had a good effort from a tight angle saved well and Anya saw a strike go just wide of Kenny's post.

With the half hour mark approaching United looked dangerous on the attack. Byram played a great cross for Smith, who was waiting in the box for a simple tap in, but the ball was cut out with a last ditch interception. Smith did have an effort on goal moments later but his shot from just outside the box went inches wide.

The next 15 minutes passed with very little goal-mouth action after a stoppage in play for George Thorne who appeared to have a bloody nose after a clash with Smith.But before the half was done the away side doubled their advantage through Chrsitian Battocchio. Following a United attack the away side broke forward through Hector Bellerin and after some hesitant defending the ball ended up at the feet of Battocchio in the box. The midfielder worked the space well to shoot and the ball went in of the inside of the post.

United were on the front foot from the very start of the second half and had a great chance to pull a goal back within a minute of the restart. First Smith saw a headed effort put over the bar but the big forward had an even better chance from the resulting corner. Alex Mowatt's corner kick was met by Smith at the back post but his powerful header went just over the bar.

United's good start to the half was rewarded on 50 minutes when Danny Pugh latched onto a bouncing ball in the penalty area. The utility man worked the position at the back post and finished superby to raise the noise levels inside Elland Road.

But those noise levels were nothing compared to six minutes later when Smith levelled the contest on 56 minutes. United broke forward through Peltier who played McCormack into space on the right. The striker took his time and crossed for his strike partner who made no mistake by slamming a header into the back of the net.

The United onslaught continued with the away side clearly rattled. United had a great chance to take the lead for the first time on 60 minutes when Austin was through on goal but Bond made himself big and made the save. Then moments later Mowatt's shot smashed against the bar following a deflection.

It was United doing all the attacking in the second but Kenny was forced to make a good save following a break forward by the away side.

United were back on the attack just after the hour mark after good build up play from front pairing of McCormack and Smith midfielder Austin saw a thunderous strike from distance blocked.

With 15 minutes McCormack thought that he had completed the turn around when he put the ball in the back of the net, but following Smith's nod down the linesman raised his flag to signal him offside.

But just minutes later the Scot wasn't to be denied when he got on the end of a delightful Luke Murphy pass. McCormack had only the keeper to beat, such was the quality of the pass, and the striker kept his cool to slot the ball past the onrushing Bond.

McCormack's goal wasn't to be the last action of the half, though, when Thorne struck from distance, which Kenny saved, but Deeney pounced on the rebound to level for the visitors against the run of play on 86 minutes.

With the game heading into three added minutes of injury time both sides were looking for what would be the winning goal. The away side saw the best chance to win the game come their way with just seconds remaining but Zaliukas made a great game saving challenge to prevent a close range shot at goal.