Leeds United 2 Watford 2: Play-off rivals would prefer to be in our position maintains O’Brien

Namely, Leeds are still in the driving seat in the race for a place in the play-offs.

With four games to go, Simon Grayson’s side sit sixth in the table and enjoy a two-point cushion over the chasing pack – something O’Brien believes should not be forgotten.

“We are in the position everyone wants,” stressed the United defender in the wake of this draw against Watford that saw the home side drop points for a 10th time this season after initially taking the lead.

“We need to concentrate on the positives. We are in the top six and have been there for several months.

“The feeling around the other clubs challenging will be upbeat but the feeling around us seems to be that we are stuttering. I am not interested in the rubbish (that is said) about how we would have taken this at the start of the season. We are where we are because we deserve to be here.

“The first question everyone asked after the Watford game was, ‘Are we still in the play-offs?’ We are and that is what matters.

“The result feels like a loss but the fact of the matter is we are still in the mix. The point against Watford could turn out to be a massive point.

“People say we have drawn too many games this season. But if we had lost and not drawn those games, we wouldn’t be in that position.

“One thing we have to bear in mind now is that everyone has to stick together.”

After another entertaining, if ultimately frustrating afternoon for Leeds, O’Brien’s attempt to bring some rational thinking to the chase for the play-offs is laudable.

United are in a position that Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Millwall, Burnley and Leicester would all love to occupy.

However, there can also be little doubt that if the Yorkshire club continue in their current vein of form – they have claimed just five points from a possible 18 – then any chances of remaining in the top six will soon be gone.

Against a Watford side who were the very epitome of industry, Leeds were once again a pale shadow of the side that has topped the Championship goal- scoring charts for months.

With Grayson surprisingly opting to revert to a 4-4-2 formation with Max Gradel joining Davide Somma up front, the hosts laboured for long periods.

Much of this was down to the front two failing to gel as a partnership, as was illustrated in the opening 45 minutes by the home side failing to build any sustained spell of pressure.

Gradel, in particular, was not suited to playing through the middle with the Ivorian’s main threat of running at defenders being negated.

United’s inability to retain possession up front had the knock-on effect of making the midfield struggle, meaning it was Watford who had several chances to open the scoring in the first half.

Two of those early opportunities owed much to sloppy play on Leeds’s part.

First, Eric Lichaj losing possession and then Leigh Bromby failing to cut out Don Cowie’s through ball allowed Danny Graham to scamper clear on 12 minutes.

Dane Kasper Schmeichel spared his team-mates’ blushes with a save at Graham’s feet and the goalkeeper had to repeat the rescue act just three minutes later to keep out a wayward backpass from O’Brien. Graham, whose movement all afternoon ensured the Leeds backline could never rest, created Watford’s next chance with a sublime cross that Marvin Sordell contrived to miss from just seven yards out.

United’s response was to fashion an opportunity of their own when an astute lobbed pass by Robert Snodgrass released Lichaj, who centred for Jonny Howson and the United captain’s shot was bravely blocked by Troy Deeney. Then, just before the break, Gradel struck the crossbar after stretching to reach an inviting cross from Snodgrass, suggesting the hosts were finally finding their feet.

After the interval, Leeds did indeed start strongly as Bradley Johnson headed just wide and Gradel wasted a glorious opportunity by opting to shoot when the unmarked Snodgrass was much better placed.

Such was the pressure being exerted on the visitors at this stage that United still looked the most likely side to make the breakthrough even when Cowie headed Graham’s cross against a post just after the hour.

And so it proved with the introduction of Luciano Becchio proving decisive, the Argentinian striker rising high to flick Barry Bannan’s free-kick into the net.

With just 18 minutes remaining, United’s task seemed simple – get men behind the ball and shut the game out.

Instead, the season-long defensive failings returned with a vengeance as, after Deeney’s shot had been turned behind by Schmeichel, Watford drew level when unmarked Lee Hodson headed in from five yards out.

Moments earlier, Becchio had wasted a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 and the Argentinian’s misery was compounded further on 84 minutes when he was forced out of the action by injury.

Two minutes later, it was 30,000 Leeds fans’ turn to feel dejected when Andy Weimann fired the Hornets into the lead after more impressive work by Graham.

A first home defeat since late October was looming only for United’s luck to finally turn when Deeny inexplicably sliced a clearance into his own net after Bannan’s corner had landed at his feet.

It meant Grayson’s side had, at least, rescued some reward for their efforts, though the upshot of letting another lead slip through their fingers is they now have no margin for error when in-form Reading travel to Elland Road this Friday.