Grounded Grayson keeps feet rooted to the ground while Leeds United soar high

The Elland Road club moved into the top two of the Championship for the first time since being relegated from the Premier League in 2004 courtesy of a 2-0 win over leaders Queens Park Rangers.

With top scorer Luciano Becchio then signing a new three-and-a-half year deal after the game, it means United go into what seems certain to be a testing Christmas and New Year period in buoyant mood.

A trip to Leicester City, who along with Cardiff City are one of two sides to truly outclass United this term, awaits Grayson's men on Boxing Day before they take on Portsmouth and Middlesbrough in back-to-back home games.

Leeds then round off the hectic festive season with a visit to third-placed Cardiff on January 4 before taking on Arsenal in the FA Cup third round four days later.

Grayson said: "To be in the automatic promotion places at Christmas is beyond what I could have hoped for.

"There is an expectancy level at this club but I don't think anyone expected us to be where we are at this time.

"Our first target was consolidation and making sure we are still in the division. That hasn't changed.

"But to be where we are is a great credit to the whole club. I include the fans in that because to have 30,000 here on the last Saturday before Christmas and for them to make that amount of noise was a credit to them.

"We will only really take stock after the next four games. It is going to be a busy Christmas period and the squad will be tested against teams that are paying a lot more money than us. After that, we can see where we are at."

Pushed further on Leeds's prospects, Grayson, who will celebrate his second anniversary in the job on Thursday, added: "I said when I came back that someone would take this club back to the Premier League.

"No one knows when that will be but there is an expectancy level and, hopefully, we can achieve it in the not-too-distant future.

"The league position will only be significant at the end of the season when you can't win any more games.

"There are still a lot of games to go. We could get relegated, and that is not me being pessimistic or anything like that – it is a reality.

"We could lose a few games and that could cause confidence to dwindle away.

"What we have done is give ourselves an opportunity to build. We have a lot of hard games coming up in a short space of time.

"It is a tight division but the players here are enjoying what they are doing.

"There have been a lot of sad and bad times at this club in recent years. But, at this moment in time, things are going well.

"We are determined to enjoy it, though with a hint of realism mixed in."

With the news Becchio had signed a new deal – his contract was due to run out in the summer – it added up to a perfect final Saturday before Christmas.

Grayson said: "It (the new contract) is a major boost for everyone.

"It was vital that we secured his services after losing Jermaine Beckford (for free) last season. I believe this shows the ambition we have as a club."

Max Gradel was United's goalscoring hero against Neil Warnock's men with a goal in each half before having to come off after, as Grayson delicately put it: "Being kicked where no man wants to be kicked".

On his side extending their unbeaten run to nine games, the Leeds manager added: "Considering who the opposition were and how we played, it was our best performance of the season.

"We defended ever so well and I didn't think Kasper (Schmeichel) had too many saves to make.

"Some of our attacking play was a real testament as to what these players can do. We have to try and build on what was a really big performance.

"I thought we saw the game out really well and showed a lot of football knowledge.

"The way we kept possession in the last five to ten minutes was pleasing.

"You can sense the players are enjoying what they are doing at the moment."

The only downside of the afternoon for United was the groin injury that forced Alex Bruce, who was involved in a car crash on the M1 two days earlier, out of the action after just 11 minutes and makes the defender an early doubt for the trip to Leicester.

Grayson said: "The accident shook him up but that was nothing to do with the injury he sustained against QPR.

"Leigh Bromby came off the bench and looked very comfortable. Full credit to Leigh, he looked like someone who has been playing in the Championship all season."

Andy O'Brien was again absent with a thigh injury but Grayson is hoping to have the on-loan defender available for the visit to the Walkers Stadium.