O'Brien said: "It's been well documented that we'd won one in seven before Saturday, but we'd also lost just one in 16, which is one of the best runs I've ever been on."
The defender, who signed for Leeds from Bolton on a permanent basis last month, after an initial loan spell, added: "It's a sprint now and whoever wins the most games will get an automatic spot.
"After that, the next best teams will get in the play-offs. Teams have games in hand, but I prefer to have the points. No games are given to you, and it's a scrap and a battle."