Jackson stepped into the role in difficult circumstances. Burnley were already relegated before a ball was kicked on Friday night, confirmed by last weekend's defeat to Manchester City, and arrived at Elland Road without their manager of the season, without a number of injured players and with a squad still adjusting to the trauma of the drop.
Leeds United made the most of it, winning 3-1 with goals from Anton Stach, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin before Loum Tchaouna scored a late consolation.
Jackson was candid about how the mood affected Burnley's start.
"We started the game a bit jittery. I knew this could go one of two ways with what has happened in the last 24 hours, and I knew there could be some nerves and anxiety. I think we grew into the game in the back end of the first half and we started the second quite well, but then again, at this level, you can't give away errors that lead to goals, and ultimately that has cost us in the end."
He identified a recurring pattern that had damaged the side across the season.
"We wait sometimes to get going, to go a goal down and then it is like 'ok let's go'. We need to give ourselves a better chance by competing from the start."
With three games remaining and Wolves now only three points behind Burnley in the table, the threat of finishing bottom of the division is real. Jackson made clear his focus will not shift to anything beyond results.
"Win a game of football. It is as simple as that. I don't look at anything else in terms of the outside. Strip it all back and it's about trying to win a game of football between now and the end of the season, to give our supporters something to hold onto going into next year. That is the sole focus. It is up to us as a group of staff to bring these lads together and try to give them that confidence, because it is difficult when you are down there."
On the question of a permanent appointment, Jackson — who has not been told he is a candidate — made his position plain.
"This is just coming less than 24 hours. That, for me, is as far away from my thoughts as possible. No one has spoken about anything to do with that. The club and players have had to deal with the manager leaving, who was really close to the group and us."
Burnley host Aston Villa on 10 May.