Patrick Bamford has outlined the several factors that have made Leeds United's second Premier League season far more difficult.
The Whites are still chasing their first victory of the season and remain winless from their opening six games.
A trip to Watford this weekend could bring that run to an end and lift Leeds from the bottom three.
After a lightning-quick start to the previous campaign, Leeds have taken longer to hit their stride this time around.
Commonly known as 'second-season syndrome', Bamford has explained that injuries and a shift in momentum have contributed to a tougher start for Leeds.
"I think as soon as you come up in the first season, you have momentum where you are riding the crest of the wave, it's almost not real," Bamford told the Official Leeds United Podcast.
"You play without expectations, not that there is pressure now, but there was no fear, no nerves. Everyone is just taking it in their stride.
"We had the surprising factor that nobody knew really what we were about. I think this year, partly because we haven't had a full team this season which doesn't help, also people know what they will get with us.
"They plan for that and that means as players we have to be bang on it all the time, we can't make even a little mistake. What we learned from Saturday is that Illan (Meslier) is unbelievable.
"Even though we were good first half, they could have had three or four but he bailed us out. Crowds play a part and make away games a little tough."
"You could say we didn't deserve to lose the game," he added when asked about the dressing room mood.
"It was a game where there were loads of chances for both teams. The important thing for the lads is they know the chances are there to score. It was getting to that final bit.
"We plated until the final 30 metres, which is how it's been all season, really good, and it's just that last pass or converting that chance or the possession into an actual chance, which we have struggled with.
"I know the boys are thinking that it's early on, we knew the second season would be harder. Nobody is panicking."
