Leeds United v Coventry City: Grayson backing Leeds rookies for promotion challenge

The Elland Road club host Coventry City tonight knowing that a victory will be enough to move back into the play-off places due to sixth-placed Hull City not having a game.

United spent almost half of last term in the top six only for a late slump in form to allow Nottingham Forest to leapfrog the Yorkshire club at the finish.

Missing out on the play-offs came as a big disappointment to Grayson but the United manager believes his squad now has the right balance to make a concerted push for the Premier League.

He said: “We are a different team to a year ago. I think our mental approach is different, in that they have learned from what happened last year.

“This season we have players who have seen an opportunity to make a name for themselves with Leeds United and are taking it.

“I mean particularly the younger lads, such as Aidy White who has been a bit-part player until this season and went out on loan.

“Tom Lees is another who has come in, along with Adam Clayton, thinking, ‘This is my chance to be a Leeds player for a long time’.

“They have hunger and youthful exuberance, and are willing learners. Add to that the lads who learned a lot from playing in the Championship last year and it is a good mix.”

Leeds are tonight bidding to claim a third consecutive clean sheet in the league, something that has proved beyond Grayson’s men since they shut out Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic over an 11-day period in League One almost exactly two years ago.

After conceding 70 goals last term and another 15 in the opening eight league games of this season, the back-to-back clean sheets against Portsmouth and Doncaster Rovers have proved to be a welcome upturn in fortune for all at Elland Road.

Grayson said: “We have been a bit gung-ho over the last few months, possibly due to the personnel we had in the team.

“But now we are much more solid. No disrespect to Max Gradel but when he and Robert Snodgrass were in the team then it meant us playing with two out-and-out wingers.”

Tonight’s game is the second of six in the space of 23 days that United are facing due to the trip to Birmingham, postponed last month because of their involvement in the Europa League, being rescheduled for next week.

It means Grayson, whose main injury concern tonight is Andy Lonergan after the goalkeeper dislocated a finger in Friday’s 3-0 win over Doncaster, is likely to have to utilise his squad in full.

Last six games: Leeds United WWLDWW, Coventry City WLDDLW.

Last time: Leeds United 1 Coventry City 0; February 5, 2011; Championship.

Referee: A Haines (Tyne & Wear).