MIKE Whitlow was on top of the world today, 13 years after being plucked from the obscurity of non-league.

The doggedly determined, highly-respected defender, whose hopes of a successful career in football appeared to be dashed when he was released from a Burnden Park apprenticeship, is savouring life at the top of his form and at the top of the Premiership.

Four impressive, influential performances have helped Wanderers stun the football world and silenced the sceptics who could only see them as whipping boys, making up the numbers for another season-long stint among the elite.

His latest triumph came on Saturday at Leeds, by coincidence at the club where he was given his second chance and where a third clean sheet in four games illustrated the determination and resolve of a team he has grown to epitomise.

Yet the club captain shuns personal accolades and refuses to make any exaggerated claims on his Wanderers' behalf.

Instead, he offers a modest, common-sense appraisal of the story so far.

"It's dreamland," Whitlow says with a winning smile. "We said all we wanted to do was work hard and do ourselves justice. So, putting it into perspective, we would never have felt we'd have been top of the league after four games with the fixtures we've had.

"But we are there because of sheer hard work, honesty and working for each other. We've had a little bit of Lady Luck but what the hell ... enjoy it."

Holding David O'Leary's Leeds at Elland Road was a result, considering the selection problems he had, which Sam Allardyce claimed was "as good as anything we've done this season" but the ecstatically happy Wanderers still know they have mountains to climb before they can talk of survival - their top priority.

"We've got 30 points more to get," Whitlow suggested, "and we've seen how hard it's been to get 10. We've got some tough games to come so we'll just enjoy this while we can.

"All we wanted at Leeds was a clean sheet and we had a little bit of luck with Jussi (Jaaskelainen) having to make one great save in the first half and one in the second. But the lads all worked tremendously hard again and that's down to people knowing their jobs. All credit to the two who came in - Henrik (Pedersen) had a fantastic Premiership debut and Gareth (Farrelly) did ever so well. They've been sitting on the side but they've taken their opportunities with both hands."