His collection of man-of-the-match awards will soon require a cellar of its own, proving that the ambitious concept of champagne football is worth pursuing.

Leeds United trusted in that philosophy against Hereford United and were rewarded, belatedly, in the appropriate way.

The club pocketed three points as the young midfielder, who is central to their style, walked off with the bubbly, heightening further the expectation that Leeds will be tasting champagne en masse in May.

Gary McAllister has a clear idea of how Leeds should attempt to perform, especially inside the four walls of Elland Road, but a commitment to the ideal of attractive football is liable to be examined when flowing performances meet dogged resistance.

United were tempted to abandon their established strategy and turn to route one as Saturday's match crept towards a 0-0 draw but the winning goal, scored by Andy Robinson with 18 minutes left, confirmed McAllister's belief that the good would out.

Robinson's diving header was the inevitable outcome of United's ceaseless pressure but, by the time it arrived, it was also a blessed relief.

Two points dropped at the end of September would not have been the catalyst for a ruinous season – McAllister's nomination for manager of the month after five previous wins was probably already secure – but Leeds played with too much control and too much adventure to find solace in a draw.

McAllister's stomach might not have taken it.

Leeds were not so much dominant as despotic. Their 19 shots on target compared to a total of zero produced by their guests, and the possession enjoyed by Hereford could be described as a share in the loosest sense.

Graham Turner's players are soft targets for criticism but, as the club at the foot of League One's pile, their defensive tactics were understandable. For 72 minutes, in fact, they were sensible and successful, shutting out a Leeds team whose rampaging endeavour often came to nothing.

If Turner, who opted for a five-man midfield, rated a draw at Elland Road as a good result then he was guilty of nothing more than facing up to the reality of his club's worrying plight.

The price of their negativity, however, was the knowledge that one goal would almost certainly be enough to see Leeds home. That fear was founded.

Robinson applied the crucial touch after Darren Randolph, Hereford's outstanding goalkeeper, clawed a header from Luciano Becchio off his goalline.