Brian McDermott saw his side turn in their finest shift of the season so far as a sorry Birmingham side were sent packing at Elland Road this afternoon.
The two-week international break proved just the tonic as a revitalised Leeds ended an alarming slump of form of late by beating a side who had triumphed in the last five league meetings.
Funniky enough I thought two-players who had featured for their respective countries midweek, Ross McCormack and Rodolph Austin were our most influential players. Austin in particular turned in a captain fantastic performance under the watchful eye of one of his predecessors Lucas Radebe, who was special guest for the day in a rare trip over from South Africa.
The visitors however jangled a couple of nerves early doors, Chris Burke out to impress typically against a club so keen to sign him but put off by his price tag fizzed a good chance wide of Paddy Kenny's goal. Lee Novak had one ruled out for offside.
However Leeds had their own creations, McCormack twice going close before putting us in front on 18 minutes with a delicate chip after the Blues defence were all at sea and left keeper Darren Randolph with no option but to charge off his line.
Leeds made it 2-0 on 33 minutes, McCormack turning provider for Austin, the Jamaican started the move sending McCormack out left before heading home the scots' cross.
I thought the crowd might burst into a chorus of "What the **** is going on?" -Matt Smith combining with McCormack, who else? The big mans effort was initially parried by Randolph but he reacted the quickest to mark his first full league start in a white shirt with a goal.
Inevitably we perhaps eased off the gas a little after the break, Birmingham may well argue they should ave taken a succession of opportunities that sprung their way, Burke saw Lees clear hus effort off the line, our old bogeyman Zigic forced Kenny to tip over frm range and David Murphy saw his free kick hit the post.
But we recorded our biggest home win for 14 months when Austin and Mowatt combined to provide Matt Smith the perfect cross to head home his second and our fourth on 74 minutes.
Hopefully the win will give us the springboard before next weekend's short trip to our delightful, dear neighbours in Kirklees. I also hope it will shut up some of the doom mongers who have lambasted McDermott and the transfer policy this past fortnight, some of the rubbish I have read has made me think is it written by Town fans with too much time on our hands. As I predicted in April when my email was read out on Yorkshire Radio, there would be idiots calling for McDermott's head if we weren't 10 points clear by October and hadn't signed Messi or Ronaldo. Lets hope they can focus their doom and gloom on Halloween from this moment forward!