Gray: A Positive Result, But There’s Work To Do

- Leicester City must work on limiting opponents to fewer goalscoring opportunities, says Demarai Gray
- The winger reflected on Tuesday’s 2-1 triumph over Brighton & Hove Albion
- Gray netted City’s first before Jamie Vardy struck in the second period
- Brendan Rodgers will take charge of the Foxes for the first time on Sunday against Watford (12pm GMT kick-off)

Gray struck on 10 minutes to put the Foxes ahead, before Jamie Vardy doubled the Leicester advantage after the interval with a fine finish.

The victory came in front of new manager Brendan Rodgers, who takes charge of City for the first time when they head to Vicarage Road to face Watford on Sunday 3 March (12pm GMT kick-off).

“I think the main objective was three points,” Gray told LCFC TV. “We made it difficult at times, they had a few clear-cut chances, but we had the luck we’ve been needing the last few weeks after our last few results.

“It’s positive and it’s a positive start for the new manager, we’re all excited and everyone’s happy, so it’s a good day.

“That’s us at our best, that’s what we’ve got. Obviously at times, the game goes a bit stale and you have to calm it down because it’s difficult to keep that tempo for 90 minutes, but we showed glimpses of what we’ve got.

“Barnesy (Harvey Barnes) was good on the left again and I think since he’s come back, he’s been a big bonus, he carries the ball up the pitch for us and works hard defensively too, so attacking wise, we’re very good.

“I think as a team defensively we need to keep the back door shut a bit more, close it up a bit and try and give the opponents fewer clear-cut chances.”

Gray’s early strike at King Power Stadium saw him take his tally to four for the season, and the Foxes No.7 believes the key to further success will be hard work on the training pitch.

He continued: “That was my fourth and for me it’s just about getting a run and a few goals on the bounce. I don’t set targets or anything, I just take each game as it comes and most importantly, keep working on the pitch and running off the ball.

“That type of stuff is what I’ve been doing and that’s how my goal came today (Tuesday), with a great pass from Youri [Tielemans], so I’ve just got to keep working hard, knuckling down and improving as a player."

Excited by the prospect of working under Rodgers, Gray added: “If you see over the years the players he’s worked with and what he’s done with Celtic over the last few years, I think it’s very exciting for the players and just the Club in general.  

“He’s an ambitious manager and his ideas that he’s going to bring into the team and the Club are good. He’s introduced himself briefly and he’s said he’s going to improve us, make our football even better than it is and it’s promising for all the lads.

“We know we’re a very good group, we need work in areas, but we’re a willing team, so like I said, I think the future’s exciting.”