Yesterday’s 2-1 defeat in the West Yorkshire Derby against Huddersfield Town left a sour taste in the mouths of Leeds United’s players and fans.

Michael Hefele’s 89th-minute strike secured a vital three points for Town in the race for promotion in a thoroughly dramatic affair at the John Smith's Stadium.

Izzy Brown had given the Terriers the lead before Chris Wood responded for the Whites and the game looked like fizzling out as a draw until sensational Hefele’s late winner.

David Wagner celebrated wildly with his players, instigating a mass brawl between players and coaching staff as the hotly contested fixture drew to a dramatic close.

The defeat left Garry Monk’s side fifth in the Sky Bet Championship, now trailing the automatic promotion places by seven points and leaves the Whites reflecting on a disappointing weekend.

Out of the teams in the play-off places, Reading and Huddersfield are now looking more likely to catch the top-two of Newcastle United and Brighton.

However, despite the air of negativity following yesterday’s defeat, there should be positivity around the past week.

Rewind to Wednesday evening, Pontus Jansson had just secured Leeds a vital three points against Blackburn Rovers, in very similar circumstances to Huddersfield’s winner yesterday.

The following day it was announced that the Swedish defender had also signed a three-year deal with the club, starting in the summer.

Leeds were competing for six points over the past week and came away with three, in what looked like a pretty hard run of games to navigate on paper.

Monk’s side could easily have found themselves drawing both games, which were settled by last minute winning goals, circumstances which would have left them with a single point less than they currently have.

The nature of Sunday’s defeat combined with the scenes that followed angered a lot of Leeds fans, but with hindsight, the past week has not been a bad one for the Yorkshire side.

Monk’s side may look unlikely to stage an automatic promotion challenge, but it is not impossible.

Leeds lost out to a good Huddersfield team, who are well organised and came into the game on the back of an impressive 3-1 victory over Brighton.

Cardiff City and Bristol City are Leeds’ next two opponents, both games taking place at Elland Road. Victory over two of the league’s struggling sides could catapult Monk’s side back into automatic promotion contention.

Leeds are currently eight points clear of seventh-placed Norwich City, and whilst not guaranteed to secure a play-off place, have put themselves in a good chance of promotion, representing a good season for the former Swansea City chief.

Sunday’s performance was not a good reflection on Leeds’ ability and they will play better more often than not, between now and the end of the season.

As the dust finally starts to settle on what has been a mixed week for Monk’s side, fans will realise the weekend’s result should not overshadow a rather positive week.