Watford beat Leeds 3-0 in Sunday’s play-off final to win promotion to the Premier League.
American defender Jay DeMerit put the Hornets 1-0 ahead at half-time, before an own goal by goalkeeper Neil Sullivan and Darius Henderson’s late penalty completed a win that made Watford the third and final team to go up.
Having guided Watford to the top flight for the first time in six years, 35-year-old coach Adrian Boothroyd will be the youngest in the Premier League.
Watford and Leeds were playing for promotion, having finished third and fifth respectively in the League Championship. Reading were promoted for the first time in their 135-year history by winning the League Championship, while Sheffield United captured the other automatic spot by finishing second.
Leeds almost went ahead in the eighth minute in front of 64 736 fans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster punched a corner from United States midfielder Eddie Lewis to Shaun Derry. His left-foot shot was heading towards goal until it flicked the heel of Hornets defender Lloyd Doyley and deflected wide.
Watford went ahead in the 25th minute when Ashley Young curled a corner from the left and DeMerit — who has never been picked for a US national team at any level — ran unmarked to meet the cross and score with a powerful diving header.
Twelve minutes after the interval, a left-foot shot from James Chambers appeared to be going wide when it took a deflection off Lewis. The ball hit the post and rebounded onto Sullivan and over the line.
After Lewis had headed a shot from Malky Mackey off the line, Watford completed the win when Derry upended Marlon King inside the area and Henderson coolly scored the penalty kick. — Sapa-AP