Grayson sets maximum points haul for Leeds United

The initiative in the race for automatic promotion has swung away from the Elland Road club in 2010 courtesy of a shocking run of results.

Just 18 points have been gleaned from 17 games since the turn of the year to allow Norwich City, Swindon Town and Millwall to all leapfrog United in the League One table.

However, after a run of four straight defeats was ended on Easter Monday with a timely win at Yeovil Town, Grayson now believes his side can make up for lost ground with a maximum finish to the campaign.

The Leeds manager said: "We said before the Yeovil game 'you have to win seven'. That is one out of the way, there are now six more to go.

"There is a unity and they did hurt after the weekend. That is why I played the majority of the same side."

Monday's win at Yeovil in front of the live Sky cameras may have been a nervy affair in the closing stages as the home side laid siege to the United goal.

But the manner of Leeds's display in the opening hour did, at least, suggest the players have the stomach for the fight – something that had not seemed the case 48 hours earlier during the 3-0 home defeat to Swindon.

Captain Richard Naylor, substituted after an hour against the Robins, epitomised the improvement shown by United with his two goals at Huish Park proving decisive.

And the Leeds-born defender is now calling on his team-mates to make sure the win at Yeovil does not prove a false dawn.

Naylor said: "To be honest, we didn't care how we played or how it came about on Monday. We needed three points to give us confidence and momentum for the last six games.

"We are up against it. We have had some bad results, and we have played well on occasions but not got the results.

"It was important we stayed together. When I scored, everyone came together and it was a nice feeling.

"Yeovil has gone now, we have another home game on Saturday and we have to push on.

"We thought Tranmere was a turning point last month but it wasn't. We have to really focus on getting going again."

Meanwhile, Sky Television have apologised after failing to show the minute's silence in memory of the two fans killed in Istanbul that was held at Yeovil.

As Huish Park fell silent exactly 10 years on from the death of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, Sky instead chose to show footage from the studio of pundits Dion Dublin and Gary Johnson.

The snub upset many Leeds fans, who immediately bombarded the broadcaster with complaints.

A spokesman for Sky said: "At Sky Sports, we always try to give the utmost respect to a minute's silence before a live match.

"But we were not aware that there was going to be any tribute. We would never intend to miss a minute's silence and no lack of respect was intended."