And there was a feeling that United’s third-round hosting of Rotherham United was actually something of an unwanted distraction in light of the club travelling to Ipswich just three days later amidst genuine hope the Whites could yet gate-crash the play-offs.
Realistically, that hope rather disappeared after losing that game at Ipswich and the subsequent loss at Sheffield Wednesday.
Ironically, it was beating Rotherham the Saturday before that has now set Leeds up for something to shout about, with some arguing that realistically the FA Cup is all that remains to the club’s season.
United are now into the last 16 of the FA Cup - the fifth round - and ball no 2 is the one to watch for in tonight’s 6.15pm draw.
There’s more than a 50% chance that Leeds will land a ‘big gun’ such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton or the winner of Liverpool and West Ham.
That really would be something to get excited about.
On the flip side, if Leeds pull out Shrewsbury Town for example, that will offer genuine hope that United can make the quarter-finals.