Hat-trick hero Jack Harrison hopes Leeds’ morale-boosting win over West Ham can be a turning point in their campaign.
Leeds have struggled to build on last season’s ninth-place finish because of their crippling injuries and were in danger of being sucked into the relegation scrap.
Harrison helped earn them their first back-to-back Premier League victories of the season to lift them nine points clear of the drop zone and he hopes they can kick on.
“There’s always going to be noise about us and the way we play,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep working and hopefully things will go our way come the end of the season.
“It’s important to get these wins and show character and we will build on that.
“Hopefully we can get on a good run of form now. We just have to take it game by game and see what happens.”
Harrison’s non-stop running typified Leeds’ display and they were back to their high-intensity best as they avenged the previous weekend’s FA Cup loss to the in-form Hammers.
“We’ve been working super hard since the defeat last week and we wanted to come back and show a different side of ourselves, a more aggressive side and intense side,” said the winger.
“I think we came out and showed that straight from the start.
“We’ve been really unfortunate with injuries and one thing or another, but against adversity we always work hard and push ourselves to the limit.
“The young lads coming in have done exactly that as well, showing their talent and character, so it’s good. We’ve been through a tough period and hopefully we’re coming out the end of it.”
Harrison, 25, was thrilled to score his first senior hat-trick after struggling to rescale the heights of last season when he bagged eight goals and made eight assists.
The former Manchester City wideman has netted four in his last two League appearances and purred: “I’m delighted to get a hat-trick.
“It’s an amazing feeling and when you score three and help the team succeed in a tough match, it’s even better.”
Harrison now has six goals and two assists and Pascal Struijk says he is playing as well as ever.
Struijk, who returned against West Ham after six weeks out with hip and foot trouble, said: “I’m happy for him. He’s done very well.
“I think he’s improved over the last couple of games. He’s getting his old form back.”
