Leeds arrived on the back of two big home defeats but McDermott had promised a much better performance from his side. That, I'm sure he got, but there were still no points.
After the game he said: "It was an improvement but we are desperately disappointed not to have won the game never mind drawn it.
"First half I felt we were the better side and we played how you have to play in this league. Unfortunately we gave a couple of goals away which is disappointing but having said that we were much better than we have been in the last two games.
"We got behind them and put them under a lot of pressure. We got to the second balls but from my point of view we didn't get a result and that is the be all and end all.
"Sean Dyche has done an unbelievably good job here as he did at Watford where he was unlucky to lose his job. I am pleased for him and you can see the camaraderie that they have here. You have to have that camaraderie and togetherness to be top of the league and that is what we are trying to get."
That camaraderie, that mentality, had Dyche enthusing after this latest win. "It was a hard earned win today," he admitted. "Nobody comes here and lies down and Leeds really had a go.
"They gave a good performance for what they are trying to achieve, but overall I thought we deserved it again.
"The great value I take in this group is to come off Blackburn, such a big game given the annals of history and the feel of it, and go and deliver again at Birmingham when we were very unlucky with the decision that went against us.
"I said then that it would repay us back because somehow football works itself out and I thought it did today early doors when a slip allowed Ross McCormack to get through. He hit the post before a fantastic challenge by Jason Shackell.
"Moments like that are important and defining sometimes and after it we were relentless again in search of the three points which we got. We've got a strong mentality and a great physicality and we know that we've got quality and organisation.
"It bodes well, but we have to keep taking care of business. That's the clarity we need. We've got to go down to Charlton next week. They're fighting in different ways, it's one game at a time and we'll look forward to that one."
With Danny Ings ruled out it meant a first start for Dyche's only money signing Ashley Barnes. He said of him: "He worked very hard and got off to a bit of a nervy start in the first 15 to 20 minutes. That can happen as it was his home debut.
"But I thought he grew into the game and his mentality, work ethic and some of the hold-up play was excellent today. And I must say, forwards can be a big greedy, but he showed clarity when Scottie hit it and he jumped out of the way and the ball flew into the net.
"It's very difficult when you're a footballer to sit there (on the bench) and they're all thinking 'I should be playing'. The great thing about this group is that they've got the mentality to come in, fit into the system and go and deliver performances."
The only concern was Danny Ings. The initial thoughts on Wednesday evening and Thursday was that it was nothing serious but Dyche confirmed: "He'll see a specialist next week. We'll see how he fares with that one, but he wasn't close today.
"I think he will need a bit more time and we'll see how he develops, but I don't want to say too much before we get the clarity from the specialist."