Leeds United were simply irresistible against Derby in January, but have fallen well short since.
When Leeds came off the pitch following their game with Derby County last month, there was a general feeling amongst the Elland Road faithful that they had just witnessed one of the Whites’ best displays for years.
But as it turns out, their 1-0 win on Friday 13th has proved to be something of a curse for Garry Monk’s men.
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The scoreline may have been narrow on that night, but the gulf in performances from the two sides was anything but. Leeds were brilliant against their fellow play-off chasers and the only criticism that could be levelled at them was that they did not score more and put the contest beyond doubt.
Since then however, the criticisms have been much more alarming, and unfortunately for Monk, much more regular.
Leeds celebrating the winner against Derby
In the six games that have followed, Leeds have won just two and have lost the other four. Narrow losses against high-flying Barnsley and Huddersfield were, in isolation, forgivable, but the defeats to Sutton United and Cardiff City have brought supporters back down to earth with a bang.
Straight after the Derby win, automatic promotion was just about on the radar. Now however, Monk’s men would be forgiven for starting to look over their shoulders with the chasing pack now just four points away.
Not only have the results been predominantly disappointing, but the performances, even in victory, have left plenty to be desired. So was the Derby performance – rather than the victory itself – one of the worse things to happen to Leeds this season?
Simon Grayson led United to promotion from League One in 2010, but it was only after they had endured a nightmare run which had come off the back of their most impressive victory of the season, an FA Cup win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Leeds won just three times in the league before the end of March and only just stumbled across the line on the final day.
Sutton United celebrate their goal in what would prove a famous FA Cup win
Although the sizes of the victories are considerably different this time around – the Old Trafford win was a genuine giant killing while Derby are below Leeds in the current table – they both set a benchmark that Grayson’s side and Monk’s men failed to reach in the weeks after.
Complacency appeared to hurt Leeds seven years ago, and given the calibre of some of the teams that have got the better of them this time around, it would perhaps be fair to say that complacency could be hurting them again, denting their chances of building significant momentum going into the games against the sides around them.
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Friday 13th January initially appeared to be the night that Leeds confirmed their promotion credentials, but if they fail to pull themselves out of their current rut, then the game may be looked back upon as a turning point in their season, as it was perhaps the victory where the weight of expectation just became too much.
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