Leeds won their first away game of the season thanks to a single strike from Captain Richard Naylor at Watford
Naylor was on hand to score from close range after just six minutes to set Leeds on their way to back-to-back wins.
Boss Simon Grayson stuck with the same eleven that beat Millwall last Saturday and new signing Ross McCormack was named on the bench.
Watford who had started the season unbeaten had to do without four goal leading scorer Danny Graham through injury.
Luciano Becchio almost gave Leeds the lead in the fifth minute but his header was tipped over by Loach in the Watford goal.
From the resulting corner, Howson and Johnson had shots blocked before the ball fell to Naylor who prodded home from close range.
Watford missed a chance to equalise when Sordell headed over from close range.
Back came Leeds and Sanchez Watt headed wide from a Lloyd Sam cross.
Kasper Schmeichel was forced into his first real save of the afternoon when he blocked a Troy Deeney shot.
He also did well to keep out Sordell when he made himself big to block the strikers shot.
John Eustace who nearly joined Leeds in the summer was next to test Schmeichel, the big Dane tipping his header over the bar.
Leeds went in at half time in the lead but the home side were beginning to pressure the Leeds rearguard.
The second half struggled to get any kind of momentum with the game constantly being stopped for free kicks.
Ross McCormack came on to make his Leeds debut with twenty minutes remaining and quickly forced Loach into a save.
The second half was poor but Leeds new recruit McCormack was testing Loach, the keeper again being forced into a save after McCormack`s shot was deflected.
The Leeds defence were holding tight at the other end as Watford tried to find a way back into the game.
Johnson had a chance in time added on to seal the win but his shot went wide of the target.
Leeds held on to record a crucial three points and ensure a decent start to the first month of the new season having recorded seven points from their opening four games.
Teams
Watford:
Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley; Eustace, McGinn (Buckley 64), Cowie, Mutch; Sordell, Deeney.
Subs:
Gilmartin, Bennett, Jenkins, Bryan, Walker, Henderson.
Leeds:
Schmeichel; Connolly, Collins, Naylor, Bessone (Hughes 45); Sam (Gradel 60), Howson, Kilkenny, Johnson; Watt, Becchio.
Subs:
Higgs, Bruce, Clayton, Somma, McCormack.
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