Maybe this is not such a bad time of year after all!

Four points in two games, psst don't shout, whisper....are Leeds finally through their winter of discontent?

Whilst poor Gary Mac got the sack for his 44th birthday, I must admit this is the time of year I do not particularly enjoy. The shops are packed-out with lemmings (or vultures in the case of Woolies) grabbing that last minute festive essential....such as erm cranberry sauce....there is a pile of crap on the telly, bar Wallace and Gromitt but that was soured when the plasticine pair attempted to deflect a ticking-bomb on Yorkshire! Oh and the idiot red and white santa hats galore.

But this one has not been too bad to be honest and muh of it is down to Simon Grayson's immediate impact at Elland Road.

As well as the pressure of the job, Leeds latest messiah-in-waiting much cope with the inevitable expectancy the draw with leaders Leicester and victory at Stockport will bring.

The Hatters have had an outstanding season so-far, Jim Gannon assembling a talented young squad of players, many of whom have crossed the Irish sea. Having been promoted last season and having lost the likes of Liam Dickinson and Antony Elding (remember him?), Stockport found themselves four points superior to Leeds when the game kicked-off at noon.

Giving starts to Andy Hughes and Robert Snodgrass, the scorer of the priceless equaliser against Leicester on Boxing Day, the Leeds boss could only watch as United were under assault from kick-off. Ankegren saved from Rose inside a minute, but Hatter's captain Jonny Mullins fired home the opener with suspicion of a deflection from the unsuspecting Jonathan Douglas.

The travelling fans, still settling from their early morning sojourn across the frosty pennines responded with a defiant "We Are Leeds" and the men in yellow responded also, Michaelik fired wide from a corner and from another corner Beckford was left in despair as his brilliant overhead volley struck the woodwork.

Leeds gradually imposed their authority on the game and the deserved equaliser arrived after 19 minutes, Snodgrass corner for Becchio to level.

Leeds continued to press and push forward, forcing Gannon into a tactical rethink. Both Becchio and Beckford had realistic opportunities to put United in front. However Stockport launched a rare counter-attack and it was heart-in-mouths time when Leeds were twiced forced to make goalline clearances on 32 and 34 minutes.

Having finished strongly, Stockport were again willing to test Leeds and the whites responded accordingly, with both sides desperate to get their noses in front. On 65, Grayson freshened things up by withdrawing Beckford and Snodgrass for Christie and Howson, and yet again his subsitution choice was to have an impact.

It was on 73 minutes that Fabian Delph gave a reminder of why Leeds are so desperate to keep the vultures at bay come January. He stunned the home, sell-out "You're not famous anymore" mob with a 30-yard-drive from County keeper Williams clearanced, which in some ways I wish he would not do because it only leads to speculation that he will be leaving over the next few weeks. However, I understand Grayson has issued a "hands-off" statement to the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle. Although the new boss has been here less than a week, he must already be aware of the precocious talent he has at his disposal in Delph.

And on 87 minutes, Christie marked his return from the dead almost with his first goal in two years to seal a first Leeds league win for five weeks.

Photo: Action Images

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