Leeds United boss Simon Grayson is setting his sights on the top two in the championship after a run of four wins in their last five games.
The good run has seen Leeds cement their place in the top six and they are currently in fifth place.
The gap between Leeds and the top two Southampton and West Ham United was closed last weekend to eight and six points respectively, with the top two suffering surprise defeats.
Grayson is hoping to keep the good run going through a busy period in December and into the second half of the season. Speaking in the Yorkshire Evening Post , Grayson said, “I won`t be the only manager who thinks the top two are still catchable.
“I`m not going to shoot my mouth off by saying we`re going to achieve that target but we`d like to.
“The teams at the top are there to be shot at and they`ll be looking over their shoulders. They`ve got good teams below them so I don`t expect them to lose their focus.”
Leeds were enjoying a similar good run of form at the same stage last season.
The start of December saw tremendous comeback wins over Crystal Palace and Burnley and they went into the festive period in the top two when they defeated table toppers Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Elland Road.
The festive period proved frustrating with Leeds twice throwing away two goal advantages against Leicester and Portsmouth to come away with just a point from each.
Despite only two defeats in their first thirteen games of 2011, too many draws were costing them any chance of automatic promotion.
A run of just one win in eight games in March and April eventually cost Leeds a chance of finishing in the play-off positions. Something Grayson is wanting to rectify this season, “Everyone talks as well about peaking when it matters – March, April, May time.
“This is a good time of year to be around things, and for the next couple of months, but if you really hit top form at the end of the season then that`s when things are won and lost.
“Last year, that period was our downfall. This year I hope we`ll have more to come and be able to achieve our target,” continued the Leeds boss.
Leeds have been in good form away from home in recent months, winning four of their last five games, including a 4-0 win at Nottingham Forest last time out.
Three of Leeds last four games of 2011 are away from home, so they will be hoping to continue this form into the New Year.
Leeds start things off with a trip to Watford today.
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