Leeds United’s Pontus Jansson would clear a missile with his head if you asked him to

The phenomenon of three wins on the bounce for Leeds United is not simply a welcome change for long-suffering Whites fans – it’s more like something approaching a state of nirvana.

Free from the worries and stresses accompanying defeat after defeat, the average Elland Road regular can relax for once, spared the jibes of a hostile media and annoyingly gloating fans of lesser clubs. Three straight wins – it’s as near to bliss as we’re likely to get right now.

Of course, it can’t be denied that this minor miracle has been achieved without the pulling-up of too many trees. Our victory at Cardiff City dumped the Bluebirds unceremoniously to the foot of the table, and the other two victories – one in the league, one in the EFL Cup – were narrow affairs against another club struggling in the Championship’s basement, Blackburn Rovers.

Swedish star, Jansson, has played the full 90 minutes in each of Leeds’ last three league outings – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

So it might not be much to write home about, although I’m clearly intending to get a blog out of it. Still; three wins is three wins, and it might just turn out to be a platform for better things to come. A victory against Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town on Saturday, and we really would be on a roll.

The most notable factor in the trio of triumphs over the past week or so may well be the emergence of Swedish international centre-back Pontus Jansson as the next Whites folk hero.

Jansson’s performance at Cardiff was simply sublime, I’ve not seen a better defensive debut in many a moon. He’s the sort of colossus who you feel would head away anything fired at him, up to and including an intercontinental ballistic missile.

And when he wasn’t wielding that impressive head, he was sliding into last ditch tackles or nipping in to make handy interceptions from frustrated Cardiff attackers. Wherever the ball entered our danger zone, there was Pontus to deal with it.

The man was a revelation, a magnet for the ball, a man among men and one to hang on to, if at all possible. Whoever the resident defenders are at Torino, his parent club, they must be a bit good to allow for the release of Jansson on a season-long loan. The Italians’ loss will, hopefully, be Leeds United’s gain.

Among other high points from the last few games was that of Pablo Hernandez’s “worldie” strike to clinch the points at Cardiff.

Hernandez scored Shoot’s Championship Goal of the Weekend in Wales last time out – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

If he can start to put in more of a full shift, the ex-Swansea City playmaker should be a real asset for United as the season goes on. And it’s good, also, to see Chris Wood scoring regularly. His winner against Blackburn in the EFL Cup was not a thing of beauty but, like Wood himself, it got the job done.

And the boy takes a good, decisive penalty, putting them away hard and true with admirable cool as he did to open the scoring against our former nemesis Cardiff. Wood may have his detractors, but he’s undeniably effective.

Last, but not least, it’s lovely to see United make progress in a Cup. Norwich City are next up in a game at Elland Road that could see Leeds make a rare quarter-final, and then – who knows? Maybe a big fish at home, like Manchester City, if they can overcome their own local minnows.

Now, that WOULD be bliss!