Watford's promotion bid boosted with 3-2 win at Leeds United on dramatic afternoon when Derby County and Middlesbrough lost

On an afternoon when the top two, Derby and Middlesbrough, and seventh-place Brentford all lost, Watford came from 2-0 down to make it seven wins in nine games.

Goals from Billy Sharp and Rodolph Austin gave Leeds a deserved lead approaching half-time as Watford initially disappointed.

But a goal from Troy Deeney just before the break and a double from the returning Matej Vydra in the second half moved the Golden Boys up to third, although that could change with Bournemouth’s game kicking off later.

The Hornets were without their man of the moment, Odion Ighalo, as a precaution due to a hamstring problem. Vydra’s inclusion as part of a 4-4-2 diamond formation was one of three changes, as Gabriele Angella and Tommie Hoban dropped out and Ikechi Anya and Juan Carlos Paredes came in.

And it was Anya who contributed to the opening goal on seven minutes. The Scotland winger’s header back to Heurelho Gomes was wide of the on-rushing goalkeeper and he could only parry the ball to Sharp for a simple tap-in.

It would arguably be harsh to blame Gomes for the opening goal but as the home crowd were chanting ‘1-0 and it is your ‘keeper’s fault’, the ex-Spurs man was once again lobbed from just outside the area to double Leeds’ advantage. It was the fourth time this season that Gomes has seen a dipping shot go over his head and this time it was Austin’s volley from just outside the corner of the area that flew into the far corner.

There were not even 20 minutes on the clock and the Golden Boys found themselves 2-0 down. Plus United were very much still the team in the ascendancy.

The visitors had to wait until the half-hour mark for their first real chance – although they could have scored from it. Almen Abdi and Deeney did well before the ball was spread to Paredes and his low drive was parried too quickly back at Vydra inside the six-yard box, so the striker was unable to adjust his feet quick enough to direct the ball past Marco Silvestri.

Watford’s work-rate was not an issue, they were hustling and harrying. But in possession they were poor. Too often the ball was given away under minimal pressure and as half-time approached a way back into the game did not appear to be on the horizon.

They needed a spark.

It came six minutes before the interval as Vydra released Deeney and he remained composed when one-on-one to slot the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

That spurred the Hornets into life. They dominated the final few minutes and created a number of openings. Firstly Watson sliced wide from 20 yards when there were better options, Vydra almost reached a low Miguel Layun cross and they had a couple of dangerous corners.

Half-time arguably came too soon for Watford.

But like the opening period, the Golden Boys started the second half terribly.

Craig Cathcart completely missed the ball when trying to pass with the outside of his boot and Sharp was able to release Austin. Thankfully for the away side Gomes rushed out to save the initial shot and Angella was able to clear the follow-up off the goal-line.

Then the usually-reliable Cathcart didn’t follow the run of Sharp and fortunately he failed to make decent contact with a cross from the right six yards from goal. And a torrid couple of minutes ended with Murphy’s dipping shot from distance going narrowly wide.

However, the away team settled and scored a classy equaliser. Abdi’s control was sublime, he laid it off to Vydra who in-turn released Deeney in the box. With a shot on, the captain unselfishly squared the ball to Vydra at the far post and he side-footed past the scrambling Silvestri.

Watford again responded well to their goal and almost took the lead immediately. Vydra cut inside Liam Cooper and from 18 yards smashed a shot which Silvestri was able to save.

The Hornets were on top but were unable to capitalise on good opportunities. Both Vydra and Anya wasted glorious chances to find team-mates in dangerous positions and Deeney twice could have been through on goal had his touch been better. Watson’s shot which he dragged wide from outside the area was the only shot at goal during a dominant quarter of an hour.

The best chance of the lot came with 20 minutes to go as Deeney’s perfectly-timed pass allowed Abdi to have a low drive from close range but the tight angle contributed to the effort going wide of the far post.

The match became stretched and it was end-to-end. There was a sense that another goal was to come.

For a moment it looked as though it would be Leeds as Murphy jinxed his way through the box but Cathcart’s tackle yards from his line began the move which would lead to the Hornets’ match-winning goal. Abdi passed to Deeney and Vydra ran across the line superbly to reach a perfect 40-yard ball by Deeney. Vydra’s first shot was straight at Silvestri but he showed desire and strength to beat the defender and bundle the ball in to make it 3-2.

The Hornets attempted to see out the game at times but after a gruelling game also lacked the energy to close down the opposition as quickly as Jokanovic would have hoped.

There were nervous moments during five minutes of injury-time, when there were three corners and Hoban replaced Paredes before giving away a free-kick in a dangerous position, which was just scrambled clear.

But Watford held on. Like Bolton two weeks earlier, it was far from a perfect display from the Hornets but like at the Macron Stadium, they showed spirit and desire to fight back from behind and secure a potentially vital away win in their bid for automatic promotion.

Leeds United line-up: Silvestri; Wootton, Bamba, Cooper, C Taylor; Mowatt (Antenucci 84), Murphy, Cook, Byram (Cani 90+1); Austin (Adryan 73); Sharp.

Subs not used: S Taylor, Berardi, Sloth, Walters.

Watford line-up: Gomes; Paredes (Hoban 90+1), Ekstrand (Angella 42), Cathcart, Anya; Layun (Munari 53), Tozser; Abdi, Watson; Deeney, Vydra.

Subs not used: Bond, Pudil, Motta, Forestieri.

Referee: Andy Haines.

Attendance: 24,705 (1,194 away fans).