Llorente goal seals first win for Leeds

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:03 am

Leeds United finally got to celebrate their first Premier League win of the season as Diego Llorente's first-half goal earned them a 1-0 win over Watford at Elland Road on Saturday.

Spanish defender Llorente was quickest to react to a loose ball in the box following a Leeds corner in the 18th minute and hooked it past Ben Foster from close range.

- Insider Notebook: The latest gossip from around Europe

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access

Watford lacked intensity and failed to test their hosts, although they thought they had an unlikely equaliser when Leeds keeper Illan Meslier fumbled a corner and the ball ended up in the net. But the goal was disallowed for a foul.

Leeds won for the first time this season as they edged past Watford.
Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images

Foster was lucky to get away with an error late on when Tyler Roberts had an effort cleared off the line.

Leeds should have won by a wider margin as Mateusz Klich went close and Stuart Dallas fired a good chance wide, while Daniel James had a strong penalty appeal turned down.

With Raphinha again instrumental for Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa's side moved up to 16th spot with six points, with Watford one point better off after seven games. 

Watford boss Xisco Munez struggled to find an answer to the relentless pressure of Leeds and despite having a late goal ruled out, goalkeeper Foster was brutally honest in his appraisal and said they had not been good enough.

"I thought if we had have (equalised) it would have been papering over the cracks," he said.

"We were very poor today. We didn't have a shot on target so can't expect to come away with anything. Leeds worked their socks off. If that goal had been given it would have been very unjust to the overall picture."