Stuart Dallas reflects on Leeds United's seven-point gap and Luke Ayling's brilliance in training

Right-back Ayling netted his third goal in his last five games in firing United into a third-minute lead and few players in any position will hit a ball sweeter.

The 28-year-old raced forward to latch on to Jack Harrison's left-flank cross and connected with a rasping first-time volley that flew past Town 'keeper Jonas Lossl and crashed in off the crossbar.

The strike set United up for a 2-0 victory with forward Patrick Bamford ending a run of seven games without a goal when converting from close range six minutes after the break.

Huddersfield could only offer a limited response as United recorded a fifth-straight league win which sent them top of the Championship and established a seven-point cushion in the automatic promotion spots.

Ayling's majestic strike will have been replayed on repeat over the course of Saturday evening and Dallas suggested there was no fluke about the stunning strike from United's defender.

"He doesn't normally strike them like that but I've got to give it to him, he did one exactly the same in training yesterday," said Dallas.

"I'm sure you'll see it on his Instagram or something at some stage.

"It was a great ball in from Jack, great technique and it's a great start for us."

Asked in jest if Ayling's recent goalscoring exploits were putting pressure on himself to add more goals, Dallas smiled: "I'm happy that he is scoring.

"I don't care who scored, he will tell you the same.

"As long as we are winning, that's the main thing."

All five of United's last five games have resulted in wins with Leeds now one point clear of former leaders West Brom who were held to a goalless draw at Swansea City.

Third-placed Fulham also had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw in a lunch-time kick-off at Bristol City meaning United pulled seven points clear in the top two with just nine games left and Sunday's trip to Cardiff City next.

United are now no bigger than 1-33 to seal automatic promotion but Dallas was keen to stress that even a seven-point cushion can prove a slender one.

"I wasn't aware of the results because the early kick off game was still going when we were out there warming up and you don't look at that when you come in from the warm up," said Dallas.

"Obviously you check the results after the game and you see that teams around us have dropped points but in this league it means nothing really.

"We have nine massive games to go and we know what's at stake.

"I'd be lying if I said we are not in a great position but we have got to keep focused on what is ahead of us.

"You could be in a better position, you could be further away. But we are happy with where we are."

Assessing United's display against Huddersfield as a whole, Dallas pondered: "I think we were comfortable in the end but in this league you are one mistake away from conceding.

"You have got to concentrate for the full 90 minutes and it was a good professional job.

"There's a lot of things we can improve on and we will have a rest day on Sunday and we will come back in on Monday and prepare for Cardiff."