Grayson is eager to keep hold of Cup hero Beckford

The 26-year-old netted the only goal of an often fiery Roses contest at Old Trafford to help the League One club dump Manchester United out of the Cup in one of the biggest upsets in recent years.

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Click here to read Sir Alex Ferguson's view >>

Click here to read Richard Naylor's thoughts on the victory >>

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Priced by one bookmaker at 12-1 to triumph at the home of their bitter rivals, Leeds made light of their third-tier status to stun the Premier League champions and Beckford's 19th-minute strike seems certain to increase the interest in a player whose contract runs out in the summer.

Leeds have, according to sources in the North East, already turned down a 1.25m bid from Newcastle United but the Championship leaders are expected to return with an increased offer in the coming days.

Grayson, for his part, is determined to hold on to his star striker though he admits other factors could come into play before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

He said: "We have stressed all along that there are three scenarios with Jermaine: he either signs a contract and stays or we keep him until the end of the season before he leaves on a free transfer.

"Or, and this is the worst-case scenario to me, we are offered a fee that is too good to turn down and he leaves. But it won't be on the cheap.

"If that does happen (Beckford leaving), we will have to have replacements lined up.

"We do not need to sell him. The club has made a decent amount of money from the tie at Old Trafford and we are on an even-keel financially.

"Sometimes, when a player has four months on his contract then the longer term view is you sell him and get two or three in to replace him.

"But that is the worst-case scenario for me. The best-case scenario is he stays until the end of the season and either signs or leaves having scored the goals to get us promoted."

Beckford's winner at Old Trafford completed an amazing turnaround in fortune for a striker who, a little over a fortnight ago, was jeered from the field by his own club's fans after reacting petulantly to being substituted during the 1-0 win over Southampton.

The Leeds striker has responded in fine style with doubles in the league victories over Hartlepool and Stockport preceding yesterday's winning strike at Old Trafford.

Grayson added: "Jermaine showed what he is all about. He worked ever so hard and he took the opportunity when it came along. He has five goals in three games and strikers are a rare commodity."

Beckford's goal meant Sir Alex Ferguson, for the first time since taking charge in 1986, saw his side knocked out in the third round. It also brought to an end a 29-year wait for victory for Leeds at the home of their bitter rivals.

Grayson, a fan of the Elland Road club as a boy, was quick to dedicate yesterday's 1-0 win at Old Trafford to the supporters who have stuck with Leeds during the slide down the leagues.

He said: "It is a fantastic achievement. This club has had a lot of negativity for the past five years with relegations and administration.

"But I said when I came to the club that Leeds United had hit rock bottom and that someone would take it back forward.

"Our fans deserved this result. Not just for 9,000 of them coming to Old Trafford, I mean for the 4,000 who went to Bristol Rovers on a Tuesday night earlier this season.

"We sell our allocations everywhere we go. We also get 25,000 regularly at home. Those fans could have walked away and thought 'football is an expensive business'.

"But they didn't. The fans have followed us the length and breadth of the country. The result is for them."

On the magnitude of the result, Grayson, who revealed afterwards that Robert Snodgrass was left on the bench due to a hamstring strain suffered in the win at Stockport a week ago, added: "We had a plan to try and contain them when we didn't have the ball, while we knew we had players who could hurt them.

"I thought it was an example of what the players have been doing all season.

"We had to be at full tilt and Manchester United had to be slightly off it. We knew that and worked ever so hard to win the game.

"We had a lot of chances to try and get a second goal at 1-0. Jermaine got through and then Snodgrass hit the crossbar.

"They were great opportunities and everyone who played their part should be incredibly proud. I would like to think the majority of people here would think we deserved to win."