It's ten years since Leeds last played Watford in a league fixture - but Sunday's game could be an important milestone for both teams.

With Watford already claiming the scalps of Liverpool and Chelsea this season, they will be looking to add United to their list. Interestingly, Chelsea came a cropper at Vicarage Road following a midweek European encounter, whilst Arsenal returned from the continent to almost receive a sting from the Hornets: a last minute goal from Kanu sparing their blushes.

From United's point of view, a win on Sunday is essential if they wish to keep up the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the Premiership table. So far this season, most supporters would probably agree that we haven't been at our very best. However, what we have managed to do is churn out the results even when we haven't been playing at 100 % Isn't that supposed to be the true sign of Champions? Let's hope so!

On Sunday, we will be without the suspended Lee Bowyer, who has already received five bookings so far this Campaign. This is undoubtedly a massive blow but if Eirik Bakke can show the kind of form he displayed against Newcastle United last Saturday, then he might prove a more than adequate replacement. Michael Duberry, who has been on the treatment table over recent weeks looks to be well on the mend but whether he will quite be ready for the weekend trip seems unlikely.

Watford have new signing Charlie Miller ready for action. However, the former rangers star might well start on the bench. Alan Smart, who scored that vital winning goal against Chelsea, is unavailable through injury, which means that new signing Nordin Wooter, their record buy at £1 million, should be partnered up front by Dominic Foley.

Sometimes, life gets so damn good that you have to pinch yourself in order to prove to yourself that you're not dreaming. This afternoon was one of those very rare occasions. With Leeds having won their previous six games, including four in the Premiership, things were already looking particularly rosy. However, a 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road sent us to the dizzy heights of the Premiership summit - then, to top things off nicely, Arsenal lost at West Ham and Man United were well and truly thumped 5-0 at Chelsea. All this entailed that we would be in top spot for another couple of weeks, at least.

Today's match was anything but a classic but yet again we managed to grind out a win even when we weren't firing on all cylinders. Also, we once again showed gritty determination to pull ourselves back from losing a goal just before halft time, along with our beloved Captain, Lucas, who was off the field when the Watford goal was scored.

O'Leary again kept faith with most of the team who secured the mid week win against Partizan. Bowyer who, of course, was suspended for this afternoon's match, was replaced by the highly promising Bakke, whilst the forward pairing was switched once again. Huckerby, who scored the only goal of the game on Thursday evening, was rested - leaving the way for Smith to partner Bridges up front.

The opening few minutes were symptomatic of the game as a whole, with the play scrappy and Watford proving themselves to be determined and belligerent opposition. Indeed, it was the home team who had the best of the early skirmishes: Martyn saving from Williams after just a couple of minutes, then new record signing Wooter seeing his shot skid of the wet surface, gathering pace before reaching Nigel Martyn's grateful hands.

United's first real chance came on the ten minute mark and should have resulted in the opening goal. Woodgate played an excellent ball through to Bridges, whose effort was parried away for a corner. Then, the ex Sunderland man was once again involved: from the resultant corner he blasted the ball high and wide over the crossbar. Moments later, a neat move involving Kelly and Hopkin again set up Bridges, whose header towards goal was easily saved by Chamberlain.

Watford, however, as expected were closing us down and denying us any space to play. What's more, they did have the occasional opportunity themselves to take the lead. From one set piece, a Kennedy in-swinging corner flashed across the goal but Ngonge was unable to make contact. Then, from a Williams corner, Ngonge hit his shot timidly wide of Martyn's goal.

On 42 minutes, disaster struck. Radebe went down clutching his knee and had to be stretchered off. As play resumed, Woodgate felled Ngonge - and from the resultant free kick, Watford took the lead. The ball was played into the box and Williams, with his back towards goal, turned with a single movement to blast the ball low under Martyn's left hand and into the net. Could Watford do to us what they had done to Chelsea and Liverpool previously?

Mills came on to replace the injured Radebe and within minutes, we were level. Hopkin headed the ball from the half way line into the path of Bridges, down the left. Michael skipped to the edge of the area where he unleashed a fierce right foot drive, which flashed across Chamberlain and into the bottom corner. A superb equaliser!

In the second half, Leeds started far more brightly with Watford allowing us far more space than they had in the first period. Kewell had an early opportunity but hit his shot wide of the post - then, in a neat move, he found Smith on the edge of the box, whose square pass found Hopkin running into space. Unfortunately, with the goal in his site, he missed the target. Finally, as United pressure began to take its toll, Kewell gave us the lead on 70 minutes. 30 yards out, there didn't appear to be a great deal of danger but his left foot swerver appeared to confuse Chamberlain, who somehow allowed the ball to swerve under his body and into the net.

From this point onwards, Leeds assumed control. A minute after the Kewell goal, O'Leary replaced Bridges with Huckerby and the latter was immediately involved in a series of attacking moves, which should have added to our lead.

Firstly, an early kick by Martyn found Darren on the right hand side. He controlled the ball neatly on his chest before hammering a shot at goal, which scraped the right hand post. Then, another Martyn kick found Huckerby on the left hand side. This time he sprinted towards goal but, from a tight angle, couldn't manage to tee up Smith, who was waiting ready to put the result beyond any doubt. Smith found the ex-Coventry man in space, who played a neat pass to Kewell, who skewed the ball tamely wide. Finally, Darren played the ball forward to Harry, who returned the compliment. However, Huckerby's powerful first time drive was parried away by the Watford keeper and the defence snuffed out Hopkin's attempt to net the rebound.

With just four minutes remaining, Haaland was given a rare run-out, replacing Hopkin - and, despite a few skirmishes in the United box, we held out to deservedly claim all three points. Although no classic, our second half performance was much improved and, most importantly, we claimed all three points to go to the very top of the Premiership.

United Star Man: Harry Kewell