Leeds United boss Simon Grayson was quick to heap praise on his players after clinching promotion back to the Championship on a nerve-wracked afternoon at Elland Road.
Speaking on BBC Sport Grayson said, ‘We kept believing we could do it and knew we’d get opportunities. Even when we went 1-0 down we still believed we’d do it and full credit to the players.’
Leeds as usual did it the hard way, they was firstly reduced to ten men when Max Gradel lost his head just past the half hour mark and received a red card for a stamp on Bristol defender Jones.
It was made even worse when they went 1-0 down early in the second half, with other results not going Leeds way they were now desperately searching for two goals.
An inspired substitution by Grayson with just over 35 minutes remaining turned the game for Leeds when he brought on local boy and fellow life long Leeds fan Jon Howson into the fray.
The game was turned within ten minutes of his arrival when firstly, he scored and then Jermaine Beckford lifted the roof off Elland Road with the winner.
Leeds have a number of Leeds fans in their ranks, Richard Naylor, Leigh Bromby, Jon Howson and manager Simon Grayson are all Leeds supporters from childhood. The promotion made it all the more sweeter and continuing, Grayson said, ‘It’s even better that it’s the club I supported and started my career with. We’re going to cherish tonight.”
The final whistle saw mad scenes of celebration and relief all around Elland Road and the fans were looking forward to a night of celebrations around the streets of Leeds.
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