THE CHANT OF “WHAT’S IT LIKE TO SEE a crowd” directed by Norwich City supporters at the visiting fans was entirely appropriate. Attendances at Elland Road five years ago during Leeds United’s Champions League heyday averaged nearly 40,000 but this season they have dipped almost to 20,000. The Yorkshire club’s fans enjoyed living the dream but almost half of them have no intention of living the nightmare.

There are signs, though, that there might be some more tempting fare around the corner for the missing fans. Leeds’s fall towards oblivion seems to have been halted and they have some significant assets. Last week’s signing of Richard Cresswell from Preston North End for £1.15 million has increased the squad’s quota of senior strikers to six.

After regrouping in the Coca-Cola Championship last season, they have risen into the play-off places after successive victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich, two of the promotion favourites. If Leeds can sneak back to mid-table in the top flight, where they sat before spending wildly in the late 1990s, their fans might consider the roller-coaster era to have been worthwhile after all and preferable, perhaps, than to have supported an Aston Villa side that have finished about eighth in the Premiership almost every year in that period with no high points to speak of.

Not that the “To Elland Back” headlines can be dusted off just yet. Leeds were fortunate not to lose to a Norwich side that came to life in the final half hour but the visiting team had shown enough to suggest that they may hang on to a play-off place. Rob Hulse will hold off the challenge of the four strikers in reserve if he repeats regularly the performance he produced at Carrow Road, when he hooked in the only goal from close range having earlier thundered a header against the crossbar.

Hulse, another million-pound plus signing, outshone Dean Ashton, his former Crewe Alexandra strike partner and an opponent on Saturday, his powerful physique allowing him to retain possession well. “Not only has he got power but he has nimble feet,” Kevin Blackwell, the manager, said.

The club’s recent experience prevents Blackwell from getting carried away. “The results we have picked up so far have given us a platform,” he said, “but we don’t take anything for granted at this club. Before Ken Bates (the chairman) took over we were on the brink of liquidation so everyone here knows what football can be like.”

Nigel Worthington is certainly not saying his Norwich side will go up. Last season they won their first Premiership game at the fourteenth attempt; another agonising count in this division wasn’t expected, but they have yet to win in five games, four of them at home. The manager rightly praised his team’s passing and Darren Huckerby, a former Leeds player, tore apart the opposing defence in the second half. Jim Brennan, the midfield player, who missed a good chance, is optimistic. “We’ve got a good squad and we’re playing well,” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before things go right for us.”

For Leeds, the corner already seems to have been turned.