It's been tough to be a Leeds fan so far in the 2012-13 season.
With inconsistency a regular problem on the pitch and board problems behind the scenes, Neil Warnock hasn't had the easiest of jobs at the helm.
The veteran has, however, managed to guide the Whites towards the playoffs at the mid-season point and with the club under new ownership, things are looking up.
Here, Sports Mole eyeballs the Elland Road outfit's term to date.
August
The season began gently with a Capital One Cup win over League One side Shrewsbury before a sterner test against newly-relegated Wolves. Luciano Becchio opened his account for the season nice and early by bagging the winner at Elland Road.
The Whites then threw away a lead at Blackpool to incur their first defeat of the season before getting back to winning ways at struggling Peterborough with Becchio notching a brace at London Road.
Progression to the third round of the League Cup was assured when Oxford were swatted away at home.
September
September began badly for Warnock's side, with a 3-3 draw against Blackburn followed by defeats to Cardiff and Hull.
This brief dip in form was corrected when previously unbeaten Forest left Elland Road tasting defeat for the first time before the shock of the League Cup third round.
Top-half Premier League side Everton came to Yorkshire and were stunned by goals from Aidy White and Rodolph Austin.
The month ended on a high as Leeds went to Bristol and picked up another three points in the league, with El-Hadji Diouf finding the net twice to continue his fine start to the season.
October
The Whites' unbeaten run was stretched to seven games with a win against Barnsley draws against Bolton, Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday. The Yorkshire derby with Wednesday was tainted when the Owls' keeper Chris Kirkland was struck in the face by a Leeds fan who had run onto the pitch.
While form on the pitch was going well enough, there were plenty of boardroom problems behind the scenes. The Elland Road faithful had been calling for the head of owner Ken Bates and a possible takeover from Dubai-based GFH Capital didn't seem to be going anywhere.
The club's unbeaten run was ended by Leroy Lita's fine strike for Birmingham before Warnock's side took another Premier League scalp in the League Cup, this time dismantling Southampton to reach the quarter-finals.
November
Leeds couldn't build on their success in the cup as they went on a four-game run without three points to start November. A respectable draw at Brighton was followed by three straight losses, the biggest of which was a mauling by Watford.
The 6-1 hammering of a nine-man Leeds side led to echoes for Bates's exit was sandwiched between a pair 1-0 defeats to Burnley and Millwall that meant Warnock hadn't picked up a league win in eight.
That unwanted stat was put to bed in the next as in-form Palace visited and were upset. Promotion contenders Leicester were also put to the sword at Elland Road, with Becchio yet again the match winner.
December
The final month of 2012 began with a third straight win in a rousing, six-goal West Yorkshire derby at Huddersfield.
Derby ended the streak a week later but the Whites bounced back in the next against Ipswich.
Next up was the League Cup quarter against Chelsea and despite taking the lead through Becchio, the hosts eventually crumbled 5-1 to the Blues' superiority.
Days later the news came through that all Leeds fans had been waiting for - the club was soon to be under new ownership.
December ended with a win and a loss as the players enjoyed a merrier Christmas because of victory over Middlesbrough but lost out to Forest on Boxing Day.
Warnock is expected to be given funds to further build his squad in January and that, coupled with the news of Bates's impending exit, has made the festive period that bit cheerier for the Leeds faithful.
Pascal Lemesre
