Liberty loss bursts strike ace Gray's double bubble
The 25-year-old, reportedly on England coach Gareth Southgate’s radar ahead of the next set of international fixtures, took his Premier League tally to eight for the season in the 3-2 loss in South Wales.
“It’s bitter-sweet,” he said. “It’s nice to score again but it doesn’t mean anything unless we get the points. We are here to win games and it doesn’t count if we don’t get anything from the game.”
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Hide AdGray netted from the spot in the first half, following referee Anthony Taylor’s controversial decision to award a penalty, and then beat Lukasz Fabianski with a beautiful shot on the turn just after the hour.
However, after Fernando Llorente’s headed opener, the Spaniard went on to steal maximum points in stoppage time once Martin Olsson had drawn the hosts level with a thunderous strike past former team mate Paul Robinson.
“Maybe we deserved a point but I don’t think we deserved to win it,” said Gray. “We got in front and it was disappointing to lose the lead.
“We would have taken a draw but ended up losing in the end. It’s always tough when they score in the last minute, especially after going in front. They have gone and scored in the 92nd-minute and it’s a massive blow.”
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Hide AdWith 11 games left to play, and a nine-point cushion separating them from the division’s bottom three, Gray added: “If we had won it today it would have been one of those games where we ground it out. They were the better team.
“You don’t always have to be at your best to win games, but we need to try and hold on for a point at least.
“I think we have performed every game since the West Ham game. We have been putting in performances, except for today. I don’t think we were anywhere near it.
“We have to keep building and there’s a long way to go. There’s still a lot to fight for.”