Sheffield United ended Watford’s winning start to the Championship season with a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane.

Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann scored an own goal inside two minutes as the Blades kept up their own unbeaten streak in the league.

Bachmann was villain-turned-hero as he saved a Kieffer Moore penalty on 15 minutes after Ollie Arblaster was felled.

Ryan Andrews’ second-half strike off the post was the closest Watford came to scoring, as they suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

Sheffield United started strong with Callum O’Hare dribbling into the box and his cut-back deflected off Bachmann to trickle over the line.

The home side had the chance to double their lead 10 minutes later when Arblaster was fouled in the box by Yasser Larouci, but Moore’s penalty was saved by Bachmann low down to his left.

Chris Wilder’s Blades felt they should have had a second penalty on the stroke of half-time when Moussa Sissoko tugged the ankle of O'Hare after he fell and tried to get back to his feet, but his pleas were ignored by referee Andrew Kitchen.

Ryan Andrews hit the post from distance in the second half and former Blade Daniel Jebbison came on for his Watford debut as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

But it was Kieffer Moore who missed the best chance of the second-half to seal the win 10 minutes from time, with his one-on-one effort kept out by Bachmann.

It was a nervy finish around Bramall Lane and it threatened to boil over at the end after some physical challenges, but Sheffield United held on for their first home league win since December 2023.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"That was a proper Sheffield United performance. I never felt we were in danger. We had to defend, fight, tackle and scrap.

"We’re still nowhere near how we really want to be, but we dominated the game. It was really important we got that win and I thought it was fully deserved."

On the heated scenes at the end:

"It got lively and I’m pleased we stood up to that challenge. Nobody’s going to come here and bully us."

Watford head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I think it was a fair result. We made a really poor start again, we need to address that. You don’t create a gameplan to start 1-0 down.

"Second-half we had no rhythm. We need to be better at trying to be patient and focusing on no technical mistakes.

On failing to score for the first time this season:

"We created some good situations without being as clinical as we have been. We couldn’t find that killer instinct and I’m struggling to put my finger on why.

"We went out with a little bit of a whimper."