Diego Llorente's first-half goal was enough to earn Leeds their first Premier League win of the season.

The result means that Marcelo Bielsa's side move out of the bottom three following an extremely slow start to the campaign.

The hosts piled on the pressure early on and went ahead after Llorente poked the ball home from close range after a corner.

Leeds would have gone into the interval disappointed to only have a one-goal advantage after a host of missed chances.

The Whites nearly went on to rue their missed opportunities when Watford had a strike disallowed in the second half.

It led to a nervy ending but Bielsa's side saw the game out to take their first three points of the season.

Speaking afterwards, a relieved Bielsa said: "Of course I feel relief, three points from a possible 18 is something to worry about. 

"Independent of what we deserved or not and to be able to win today was a necessity. It was a deserved win and the difference could have been bigger. There were some players who shone and that was it."

Meanwhile, Watford manager Xisco Munoz was critical of his side, blasting: "I'm disappointed with our performance.

"We continued with the same mistakes. If we want to win games in the Premier League we need more consistency and better performances.

"We need to work more, more and more. We know how important it is to get points."

Did you know?

Leeds have won all three of their top-flight meetings against Watford, with this the first since completing a league double over them in 1999-2000.

Watford have lost nine of their last 10 away matches in the Premier League, the only exception being a 3-1 win at Norwich last month.

Leeds have kept a clean sheet at home to Watford in league action for the first time at the 11th attempt —  coming into this match the Hornets were the only side to have played at least four away league games against Leeds while finding the net every time.

Watford attempted only five shots in this match — Leeds last faced as few as five shots in a league match back in December 2020 against West Brom (four).

Leeds have earned their first league win of the season in their seventh match — it’s the joint-longest they’ve had to wait for their first victory, also picking up their first win in their seventh match in 1935-36 and 1951-52.

Llorente has scored twice in nine league appearances for Leeds United at Elland Road — he has already scored more home league goals for Leeds than he has for any of his previous clubs in Europe’s big five leagues.