Leeds United captain Paul Butler wants Elland Road to become a graveyard for visiting teams, starting with Millwall tomorrow.

United won only seven of their 23 home League matches last season and Butler bellowed a timely reminder.

"We must make Elland Road a fortress again," he said.

"We have been an easy ride for a lot of teams on our own ground. We must not play with fear. In fact, we have to stamp our authority on games because we have plenty of experience in our squad now.

"The manager has signed players who have done it at this level and higher.

"If you win your home games it takes a lot of pressure off away from home. The fans rightly have high expectations and we have to live up to them."

Butler and his team-mates expressed confidence in their ability to challenge for promotion by agreeing to a bonus system which only rewards them when they are in the top six.

"That says a lot about what we think about our prospects this season," ventured the captain.

"We are not complacent but we feel we have enough ability in the side to do well. Promotion is the priority. Nothing else will do."

Manager Kevin Blackwell added: "Last season we had a lot of young players in the team and the last thing they wanted to do was to make a mistake in front of 30,000 people."

Watford have beaten off competition from Stoke to capture Clarke Carlisle.

The 25-year-old ex-Blackpool and QPR central defender has initially signed on loan so he was available for today's Championship game against Preston and will complete his £100,000 transfer on Monday.

Watford are managed by former Leeds coach Adie Boothroyd.

Updated: 11:57 Saturday, August 06, 2005