Leeds can sting the Hornets says Eddie Gray

A fine run of form that had taken United to the top of the Championship form table was ended on Tuesday night with a 2-0 loss at Brighton – a result that left 14th-placed Leeds ten points off the Championship drop zone and 18 points behind sixth-placed Watford.

The promotion-chasing Hornets are the bookmakers’ favourites to condemn Neil Redfearn’s side to back-to- back defeats but Gray is taking encouragement from Leeds seemingly raising their game against the division’s better sides.

Three of the division’s top four have already been beaten at Elland Road this season in Derby County, Middlesbrough and Bournemouth and Gray believes Leeds can make that four teams out of the Championship’s top six.

The Hornets hammered United 4-1 at Vicarage Road back in August when United had both Giuseppe Bellusci and Sam Byram dismissed but former Leeds winger Gray can spot an opportunity for revenge.

“Watford are a threat,” admitted the Whites legend.

“We’ve played Watford and they have got a bit of pace in the side and it’s going to be difficult for us.

“But the way things are going just now, we seem to play better against the the better sides - the teams at the top.

“The only side at the top that we have played recently that were far better than us were Brentford as in the two games we have played against them they were the dominant side.

“But I think we’ve improved since then and I don’t see any reason why we can’t go and beat Watford.”