Duberry convinced of Gray's credentials

Michael Duberry believes Leeds caretaker-manager Eddie Gray has found the winning formula to propel Leeds up the Premiership.

Following yesterday’s 3-2 triumph over Fulham at Elland Road, Leeds have now taken seven points from their last three matches.

Although Leeds remain one off the bottom, their resurgence means they are only five points adrift of 11th-placed Middlesbrough such is the tight-knit nature of the bottom half of the table.

Leeds legend Gray has been praised by a number of the players for the revival which has given everyone connected with the club firm belief they can avoid relegation.

Gray has switched formation by playing five across the middle, and most noticeably has dispensed with the services of the six on-loan foreign players signed by former boss Peter Reid.

Duberry has been one of the main beneficiaries of Gray’s tactics, and yesterday was in the right place at the right time to steer home the opening goal from a parried Ian Harte free-kick.

It was Duberry’s first goal for three-and-a-half years, and only his second for Leeds since his £5m (€7.1m) arrival from Chelsea in the summer of 1999.

Duberry has also added his weight to the claim Gray should be given the job on a permanent basis as he said: “It’s working well.

“Sometimes it can go one of two ways when an old hand takes over. People might not respond to him, but everyone has responded to Eddie.

“He has everyone working to the best of their ability and the formula is working for us at the moment.

“The confidence is high thanks to the last few results and we’re getting a level of consistency which you need in this league.

“With the exception of the top three who are special, everyone is well matched, so if you get that consistency then you climb up the table.

“The target now is to get out of the bottom three as quickly as we can. If we do that then hopefully we can keep on climbing up the table.”

A question mark still remains, though, as to whether Gray will get the job full-time as he does not currently possess the required coaching qualifications.

However, there are plans in the pipeline to ensure he is fully qualified by the time his probationary period expires in early February.

Gray’s other dilemma relates to the fact he may not be needed by the club’s new owners once they are in place, although he is currently doing enough to convince a prospective buyer he is the man to stay at the helm.

Duberry at least has the full support of Gray, although he concedes his goal which made him even more of a cult hero with the fans was a fluke.

“It was a reaction and I’m just pleased it went in for me, but I’ve waited three and a half years for that. Worth waiting for wasn’t it?” smiled Duberry.

“The only other goal I scored against Watford didn’t really mean anything, but this was important. It kick-started us.

“I was hoping to get a clean sheet and the winner, but it never worked out like that. On the whole, we battled and did well.

“At the end of the day it was just pleasing to cap off a few good performances and hopefully now I can keep building on those.”

Midfielder David Batty is out of the trip to Wolves on December 28 as he will be serving a one-match ban for picking up his fifth booking of the season yesterday.

Winger Jermaine Pennant, meanwhile, is to remain with Leeds for a fifth month on loan from Arsenal, with the deal due to be officially confirmed tomorrow.