Under-pressure Leeds United boss Brian McDermott felt his side “gave” Watford their goals and acknowledged the Whites desperately need to halt a run of results that has now seen them lose eight of their last nine games following the 3-0 defeat at Vicarage Road tonight.

Goals from Almen Abdi, Ikechi Anya and Troy Deeney gave the hosts a comfortable win against McDermott side as new owner Massimo Cellino looked on from the directors’ box after his controversial and protracted takeover at Elland Road had finally been completed earlier in the day.

McDermott said: “They had two attacks and scored two goals, we just gave them two goals. We’ve been doing it too much. Second half we came out, 2-0 down, we started better and gave them another goal. Instead of just clearing our lines we gave them another goal, it’s not good. I’ve got to get 11 characters out on that pitch at Elland Road on Saturday that have got the bottle to play and that’s the most important thing because we need to get a result.”

The Leeds boss was asked later if Watford deserved credit for their performance. McDermott stressed that he was facing the press to talk about his own team but continued: “I thought Watford played well. They’ve got a decent team, they’ve got good energy, they hit us on the break. They didn’t really come out, they just hit us on the break twice and scored two goals and then obviously scored the third but they didn’t have loads of chances but they took them. Of course the opposition deserve praise, they won the game.”

McDermott, whose assistant is Hornets legend Nigel Gibbs, admitted he had “no idea” whether he would continue as manager, explaining: “Obviously it’s the owner’s prerogative to do whatever the owner wants to do. I’m not in a strong position now because of the results that we’ve had over a period of time. What I am pleased about is the ownership thing is sorted out and we don’t have to talk about that no more, we can talk about football and nothing else.”

However, the former Reading boss stressed that he wanted to continue, adding: “We’ve got to try and get a result on Saturday. It’s hurting, it really is hurting at the moment but I’ve done it before, I know it’s doable, I know I can do it again. It’s churlish to say it now after we’ve seen that run of results but we need to get a result on Saturday, that’s all we can do.”