Leeds's hard work starting to pay as they lift off the bottom

Leeds produced a stirring second-half fightback to stun the ailing top-four hopefuls 19-12 and climb above Sale and Worcester into the relative sanctuary of 10th place.

After knocking on the door for the last few weeks with wins over Sale and then Wasps, Leeds have now taken a big step towards their primary goal of avoiding an immediate return to the obscurity of the second tier.

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While cautious not to think too far ahead, with their survival by no means assured, Key feels this victory could prove a watershed moment in the club's history.

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"When Neil Back and I came in 18 months ago we realised this club had to turn the corner and be more professional on and off the field," said Leeds's director of rugby, after a try from Lee Blackett and 14 points from Joe Ford earned Leeds a second successive home win.

"We had some good wins in the Championship, but where we are now is where we want to be, and this win is right up there in terms of the most satisfying.

"This is the start of what we hope is a long-term journey.

"Climbing off the bottom has to be a relief – it's been the objective over the last few weeks.

"What we've always known is that this side had the ability to win and win well.

"We've learned some heavy lessons on the way but now all that hard work is starting to bear fruit.

"Backy and myself are always asked as a management team, do we have that mental strength, and you saw today huge mental strength.

"With the way we were performing in the first half and with some of the decisions going against us at certain times, the mental strength the side needed to have to ensure it didn't go off the rails was outstanding.

"As a result of that we've produced a really good win.

"We know that this four weeks has provided more evidence to us as a management and to the players, and also to the outside world, that this is a side that can only move forward.

"The players have put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes. It would have been very easy to have faltered, to have said that this is too hard. But this just shows the desire in the side and credit to them."

Leeds now have three weeks in which to reflect on a satisfying four-game block of Premiership fixtures which reaped 13 points.

But they are under no illusions that the hard work is done, particularly with a tough trip to Gloucester on March 27 beginning a six-week period which will determine whether yesterday's win was indeed a landmark moment.

Key said: "Backy and I feel comfortable that the targets and objectives that we set have been met, and we've probably surpassed that. This is the performance that gets you results but also pushes you into the right area of the table.

"All the hard work we have asked them to do they have put in and we have got our just rewards.

"It's a huge relief but there's massive belief we can not only stay up but go on and be an outstanding side. We have no room for error though now and need to keep picking up wins."

The rugby director's sentiments were echoed by Leigh Hinton, the Leeds full-back, who played his part in an outstanding team effort, not least when he was scythed down when catching a high ball in the second half.

Hinton was relegated with Leeds two seasons ago and having helped them bounce straight back at the first attempt last year, knows exactly how much of a psychological advantage yesterday's win will give the club in the relegation run in.

"We won't make any bones about it, this year has always been about staying up, we've been saying it from day one," said the 31-year-old.

"The teams that are down there with us probably weren't thinking that at the start of the season.

"We are where we want to be now and we're mentally tough. Maybe some of the other teams in that situation aren't as strong as us in that area.

"We've been talking about it since before Christmas that we just wanted to get off the foot of the table.

"That's been our drive – that has kept us going.

"We got off to a slow start but we're playing some good stuff now and caught up with everyone. It's brilliant to be off the bottom. Everyone in the ground has gone away with a smile on their face."