Lonergan hopes Burnley win proves turning point for Leeds United

Leeds were thrashed 4-1 by their Yorkshire rivals and were on the verge of a defeat to 10-man Burnley at home on January 2 until a late siege brought victory courtesy of an own goal and a Ross McCormack winner.

Simon Grayson’s side now travel at Arsenal in the FA Cup on Monday with the mood slightly more upbeat, thanks in no small part to the team meeting they held in the wake of the Oakwell mauling.

“The expectations here are massive,” said goalkeeper Lonergan.

“We had a meeting after the Barnsley game and came back to the training ground on New Year’s Eve and didn’t leave until late.

“A few things were said, which you need and it was good to get it out.

“We all know what we need to do. It was probably one of the worst performances I’ve ever been involved in.

“I had some batterings as well last season at Preston, but with the amount of people who went to watch us at Barnsley, you just felt like you had really let them down.”

Prior to the Burnley game, Leeds had lost three straight games.

Lonergan said: “If you read and listened to everything, it was a crisis beforehand. But we won and now we’re one point off the play-offs. That puts things in perspective.

“I know Barnsley wasn’t a great result and it was a horrible feeling for everyone that went and those who played, but there’s always another game.

“The Burnley match could be a massive, massive turning point.

“I don’t know whether them going down to 10 men or not helped us, but in the end, we won.

“It was a huff and puff sort of game, we were trying and trying with out really creating anything. But as I said to the lads afterwards that own goal might have been the bit of luck we’ve needed this season.”