Leeds United Football Club - Gray: Right To Boo
Eddie Gray says the supporters who booed his side off against Spurs on Saturday were entitled to do so, as he vowed to continue to do his best to restore Leeds fortunes.
The United caretaker boss was left bitterly disappointed by the defeat, but maintains that despite it being the fourth defeat in a row, the players have got enough quality to stay up if they perform properly.
A chorus of boos rang out from the stands as the players left the pitch, and Eddie could not blame anyone who voiced their disapproval at the performance.
"It's the first time since I came back to the club that the crowd have had a bit of a go at the players and I would never have any complaints about that," he said.
"I think they were justified to do that, I have to be honest about that. They still got behind the team but I think there were certain aspects of our play that they could see we were not playing with the belief that we could get back in the game.
"It's the first time I can say I saw a few heads dropping which was disappointing. In saying that, I can understand how they feel because they weren't performing and the two go together."
With the defeat leaving United five points adrift of safety inside the relegation zone, Gray knew his thoughts would be small crumbs of comfort, but he remains dedicated to fighting off relegation.
"Like me and everybody else connected with the club, the supporters have got to have the hope that we can get out of trouble, it's up to the players to have that hope as well. We have still got the players at this football club that can turn it around. If we keep working and they show that courage then I still think we can pick results up. It's not going to be easy, but that's the nature of the game. I will put today down to the players not performing, players have got to have the courage to try things to win football matches. The one thing they never showed today was the belief and courage to play. That needs to change."
Eddie Gray says the supporters who booed his side off against Spurs on Saturday were entitled to do so, as he vowed to continue to do his best to restore Leeds fortunes.
The United caretaker boss was left bitterly disappointed by the defeat, but maintains that despite it being the fourth defeat in a row, the players have got enough quality to stay up if they perform properly.
A chorus of boos rang out from the stands as the players left the pitch, and Eddie could not blame anyone who voiced their disapproval at the performance.
"It's the first time since I came back to the club that the crowd have had a bit of a go at the players and I would never have any complaints about that," he said.
"I think they were justified to do that, I have to be honest about that. They still got behind the team but I think there were certain aspects of our play that they could see we were not playing with the belief that we could get back in the game.
"It's the first time I can say I saw a few heads dropping which was disappointing. In saying that, I can understand how they feel because they weren't performing and the two go together."
With the defeat leaving United five points adrift of safety inside the relegation zone, Gray knew his thoughts would be small crumbs of comfort, but he remains dedicated to fighting off relegation.
"Like me and everybody else connected with the club, the supporters have got to have the hope that we can get out of trouble, it's up to the players to have that hope as well. We have still got the players at this football club that can turn it around. If we keep working and they show that courage then I still think we can pick results up. It's not going to be easy, but that's the nature of the game. I will put today down to the players not performing, players have got to have the courage to try things to win football matches. The one thing they never showed today was the belief and courage to play. That needs to change."