Gray: We Showed What We’re About

- Demarai Gray hopes Leicester City can go on a run of good form following West Ham United victory

- The Foxes triumphed against Slaven Bilic's men courtesy of Islam Slimani's 20th minute header

- Gray was again at the centre of things for City as Claudio Ranieri experimented with a new system

- Leicester travel to Middlesbrough on Monday 2 January, 2017 hoping to secure back-to-back wins

Islam Slimani’s 20th minute header was enough for the Foxes to make amends at King Power Stadium for a Boxing Day reverse against Everton and Gray, who played a key role in their resurgent display against the Hammers, says confidence is high in the camp once again. 

City travel to Middlesbrough on Monday 2 January (12.30pm kick-off) before making the trip to Merseyside the following weekend to face Everton in the Emirates FA Cup and Gray hopes the performance against West Ham will be a catalyst for a continued period of success. 

Speaking to LCFC at full-time, Gray said: “We said before the game it was important to end the year on a high and we did that. The performance was good and hopefully we can take that into the next games. 

“It’s been an up and down start to the season, but every time we’ve been down we’ve tried to react. Today, we got off to a great start and it was a tough second half but we battled it out and showed what we’re about. 

“If we were a little more clinical, we could have been two or three up, but we got the one goal which is all we needed. If we get off to a good start and get some momentum, a lot of teams will struggle against us. 

“If we can keep it up I think we can pick up some points.” 

City will undoubtedly be buoyed by the goal-scoring exploits of striker Slimani on Saturday and Gray has tipped his hat to his team-mate after scoring a crucial goal at King Power Stadium. 

Claudio Ranieri’s men, however, were forced to soak up pressure for large periods in the second half but the former Birmingham City winger says it showed the mental toughness of the squad. 

Gray added: “That’s what Islam does, that’s his threat. The attackers were positive today and one goal was enough. Sometimes the game turns around and the opposition are on top. 

“We all stuck together. We said in the changing room this might happen and we rode it out.” 

Looking ahead to the journey to the Riverside to lock horns with Aitor Karanka’s Boro this week, Gray pointed to the battling 2-2 draw between the two sides earlier in the season as proof of the test City will face. 

“They did well against us here so we know what we’re coming up against,” he continued. “I think, if we can start like we did today, we’ll be a problem for any team so we need to keep a positive mindset. 

“Every game is important in this league and an opportunity to pick up points – so we need to keep positive and do what we do best.”