Defender Sam Byram scored first goal of the season for Leeds to double their lead against Watford
Leeds secured their first home win in nine games with a clinical 3-0 victory over Watford at Elland Road.
The Whites entirely dominated the 90 minutes with Georginio Rutter having a goal ruled out for offside and Daniel Bachmann keeping a muted Watford on level terms with a string of excellent saves during the first half.
Joel Piroe's fourth goal of the campaign finally gave Leeds their just rewards after 67 minutes with a tap in from close range, before Sam Byram's header made it deservedly 2-0 three minutes later.
Jaidon Anthony wrapped up the three points in the final minute of regular time as a dismal Watford stretched their run without a win away from home to 12 games.
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Leeds did the double over Watford the last time they met in the Premier League two seasons ago with this the first time they have ever won three consecutively against the Hornets.
After being held to a 0-0 draw against Hull on Wednesday, Daniel Farke must have been scratching his head as to how his side were not ahead at the break.
Bachmann produced two excellent early saves, first to deny Ethan Ampadu and the second from Rutter whose effort from a few yards out really should have gone in.
Rutter later got the ball in the net, turning in the box to slot in a pass from Piroe, only to see the offside flag rightly raised, Cyrsencio Summerville's close range shot was also kept out by the Watford keeper and Dan James saw appeals for a penalty waved away after he went down in the box.
After a first 45 minutes with no efforts on goal, Watford boss Valerian Ismael made three changes at half-time to try and turn the tide to little avail.
Piroe sent a shot over the bar as more Leeds chances went begging before the striker finally ended the hosts' frustrations by volleying into the net from a perfectly-weighted cross from James.
Byram, back in the starting 11 as one of four changes, headed in his first goal of the campaign minutes later from a corner.
Substitute Anthony put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute, slotting the ball past Bachmann in a one-on-one with the Hornets keeper.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsLeeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Meslier17Shackleton21Struijk6Cooper25Byram4Ampadu8Kamara20James7Piroe10Summerville24Rutter
- 1Meslier17ShackletonSubstituted forAylingat 90'minutes21Struijk6Cooper25Byram4Ampadu8KamaraSubstituted forGruevat 90'minutes20JamesSubstituted forPovedaat 84'minutes7PiroeSubstituted forGrayat 84'minutes10SummervilleSubstituted forAnthonyat 80'minutes24RutterBooked at 40mins
Substitutes
- 2Ayling5Cresswell12Anthony22Gray27Poveda28Darlow30Gelhardt44Gruev49Joseph
Watford
Formation 4-3-3
1Bachmann45Andrews5Porteous4Hoedt6Lewis10Louza3Sierralta11Koné7Ince9Rajovic37Martins
- 1BachmannBooked at 67mins45AndrewsBooked at 43mins5Porteous4Hoedt6LewisSubstituted forChakvetadzeat 80'minutes10LouzaSubstituted forAsprillaat 68'minutes3Sierralta11KonéSubstituted forKayembeat 45'minutes7InceSubstituted forDele-Bashiruat 45'minutes9Rajovic37MartinsSubstituted forBayoat 45'minutesBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia15Pollock16Chakvetadze18Asprilla19Bayo24Dele-Bashiru39Kayembe40Roberts42Morris
Referee:Jeremy SimpsonAttendance:36,236Match StatsHome TeamLeedsAway TeamWatfordPossessionHome60%Away40%ShotsHome17Away4Shots on TargetHome10Away1CornersHome8Away1FoulsHome13Away15Live Text Post update
Match ends, Leeds United 3, Watford 0.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 3, Watford 0.
90'+5'Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Illan Meslier.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt saved. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Yáser Asprilla.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt blocked. Georginio Rutter (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
90'+3'Post update
Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
90'+1'Post update
Offside, Leeds United. Ian Poveda tries a through ball, but Archie Gray is caught offside.
90'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Ilia Gruev replaces Glen Kamara.
90'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Luke Ayling replaces Jamie Shackleton.
89'goalGoal!
Goal! Leeds United 3, Watford 0. Jaidon Anthony (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Georginio Rutter.
88'Booking
Vakoun Bayo (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
87'Post update
Ian Poveda (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
87'Post update
Foul by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
87'Post update
Ian Poveda (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87'Post update
Foul by Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford).
87'Post update
Attempt saved. Jaidon Anthony (Leeds United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
85'Post update
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Ian Poveda replaces Daniel James.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Archie Gray replaces Joël Piroe.
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Source: bbc.com