The Leeds United squad were well aware of the pressure on them to perform amid the pomp and circumstance of last month's centenary match against Birmingham City, Luke Ayling has admitted.
With Liam Cooper sidelined through injury, Ayling skippered the side in the clash against the Blues which took place two days after the club's 100th birthday, as a host of club legends were present at Elland Road.
The Whites are looking to celebrate their centenary season with a long-awaited return to the Premier League, meaning that three points that day was vital and the team duly obliged, as local lad Kalvin Phillips scored the only goal of the afternoon.
And Ayling knew just how important it was to cap a week of celebrations off with a win.
"There was a lot of pressure on us that week," Ayling said in the matchday programme ahead of Saturday's match against QPR.
"All week it was about how great the club has been and with all of the legends coming back. We still had a job to do.
"In the huddle I said the only thing that matters to us boys in the team is the three points. We wanted to make it special day for the club, but also a special day for us boys as well and one that we will always remember.
"If we'd have lost the game it wouldn't have been a happy day for us on the pitch, despite it being a great occasion for everyone else."
Ayling also spoke about the honour of captaining his side on such a prestigious occasion.
"It is a great to captain this club, especially in the centenary game, it was a really special moment," he continued. "It was probably the first time in my career that I have stopped and thought, 'Wow! I am actually captaining Leeds through its 100th birthday and for the centenary match!'. It was a real pinch-me moment.
"I went home, took the shirt, armband and jacket and it is all going to go up in a frame. I never frame shirts or anything, this is going to be the first one that I have up in the house. It was definitely the first moment in my career where I have stopped and just been wowed."
Ayling penned a new four-year contract at Elland Road earlier this season.
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