Leeds United soaring as big test awaits Huddersfield Town

This was an occasion when those words uttered by legendary former Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson, whose picture adorned the front cover of Saturday’s programme, instantly sprang to mind.

Leeds – looking down on the rest of the Championship after moving back to the summit – are not jetting off back to the Premier League just yet. But the cabin crew are about to do their safety demonstration.

Given last season’s shattering late events, Whites supporters know better than most that it is never over until it is over.

But the majesty of this sumptuous derby offering smacked of top-flight class. In the season’s business end, Leeds are hitting heights of offensive and defensive excellence that few can live with, while rivals falter and wrestle with form issues.

In comparison to December’s reverse fixture, Huddersfield were richer in terms of options, more especially going forward with Marcelo Bielsa advising that Leeds were facing a far stronger opponent.

On the day, it was the pre-match warning of Danny Cowley which rang true.

He spoke of Leeds’s predilection for fast and furious football and ability to suffocate opponents with their intensity.

That happened to the letter on a day when Cowley’s pre-derby declaration that Leeds were the best side in the Championship was also crystallised.

Fully concurring, Terriers full-back Harry Toffolo said: “I thought Leeds were exceptional and the movement of the players was the best I have come across in the league so far.

“It was the most suffocating a team has been against us and that’s why they are up there.

“It’s a fair reflection of the league and they deserve to be up there and have an exceptional manager and the players were top class.

“Sometimes, you have to hold your hands up. Unfortunately, it’s to Leeds and Huddersfield fans won’t want to do that. As players we don’t, but they are an exceptional football side.

“But, in my opinion, the big game is on Saturday against Wigan. It is the game of the season for us.”

This particular derby has never been short of drama and an in-character appearance arrived three minutes in.

The pre-match talk had been about the absence of Kalvin Phillips, but the name of Luke Ayling was soon on everyone’s lips.

A well-crafted move ended in Jack Harrison flighting over a succulent centre, with Town players guilty of not stopping the cross at source, ball-watching and leaving Ayling untracked.

A swerving volley from the full-back, which followed his strike in the last home game with Reading, was hit right in the sweet spot and was a thing of beauty. It hurtled past Jonas Lossl and into the net off the underside of the bar.

Back in the late Seventies, a brilliant banana shot from Whites maverick Tony Currie against Southampton famously inspired former Yorkshire Television commentator Martin Tyler to utter: ‘Oh my word.’ This was another such moment.

For Huddersfield, the writing was on the wall pretty much after that.

With Hernandez making light of Jonathan Hogg’s absence and conducting the orchestra, Leeds dictated in trademark fashion.

After a chastening opening, a young Town side did show signs of finding their feet – conjuring a decent chance with Trevoh Chalobah’s low shot lodging under the body of home debutant Illan Meslier after a neat exchange with Fraizer Campbell.

But Leeds always possessed the innate ability to step things up.

A typically polished move saw the excellent Harrison drill a volley inches wide, and Ben White, in the Phillips role, glanced a header just off target.

Afforded the time to regroup at the interval, it quickly became apparent that the second half would be a long one for Town.

A header from Harrison straight at Lossl, moments after the restart, was an indicator of things to come.

The inevitable second goal arrived in relieving fashion from Patrick Bamford, with a love-in resuming after he buried the rebound from close in for his first goal in eight matches after Lossl clawed away White’s header.

After that, it was party time for Leeds as they toyed with Town at times with Harrison striking the woodwork and Hernandez nutmegging opponents and the Elland Road crowd lapping it up.

Home supporters soon indulged themselves with a selection of chants, some of them not entirely friendly towards their Terriers counterparts, whose backing for their side on a tough day was admirable.

It was an occasion when you wondered when these two sides will next meet with a chorus of Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again – don’t know where, don’t know when – being one which would have perhaps been fitting.

For Leeds, sunny days are in view.

Stuart Dallas said: “I’d be lying if I said we are not in a good position, but we have to keep focused on what is ahead of us.

“Luke does not usually strike them like that. But I have got to give it to him, he did one exactly the same in training on Friday. I am sure you will see it on Instagram at some stage.

“I was delighted for Patrick, too. He has come in for a lot of criticism recently. He’s got a goal and it didn’t matter how it came. He is massive for us and, hopefully, that will do him the world of good.”