SIMON GRAYSON hailed his Leeds players for a "fantastic achievement" after they set two club records.

First-half goals by Mike Grella and Lubomir Michalik earned Leeds their eighth consecutive victory, surpassing the seven-win mark set by Don Revie's legendary side in 1973.

Victory also took Grayson's men past the run of 13 home league wins set in 1969.

The Elland Road boss said: "A lot of fantastic players have played for Leeds - and for these lads to have achieved those records should make them very proud.

"In the past, they were done at a higher level but the only thing we can do now is try to keep extending them."

The Leeds fans may sing the self-mocking song, 'We're not famous any more' - and the club's history can act as a burden. But their flying start has raised hopes they can finally end their League One purgatory after three seasons.

This win kept the Yorkshire club level with Charlton at the top of the table.

And victory looked inevitable from the moment Grella, in for injured Jermaine Beckford, hit his first Leeds goal in the ninth minute.

Skipper Jonathan Howson, asserting his authority in midfield, won the ball out on the right to spark a flowing move. When the ball reached Grella on the far left of the penalty box, the striker played it back to Bradley Johnson.

But the former United States Under-20 international then stepped inside and, taking the ball off the toes of Johnson, swept a low shot across Owain Fon Williams and inside the far corner.

Grayson said: "That will do Mike a world of good and give his confidence a big boost."

There was a strong hint of controversy about Leeds' second goal after 37 minutes.

Under pressure from Leeds debutant Leigh Bromby, Fon Williams could only flap at Robert Snodgrass' high free-kick into the box - and Michalik turned the ball home. The County players argued that Bromby had fouled the keeper and boss Gary Ablett was sent off by ref Danny McDermid after protests in the tunnel at the interval.

After Grella had blazed over early in the second half, Snodgrass missed the chance to add a third in the 61st minute after his cross was handled by Gianluca Havern.

But he sent his penalty kick too close to Fon Williams, who saved with his legs.

Yet it took two fine stops from Shane Higgs at the other end to deny County's on-loan striker Nicholas Bignall.

Grayson admitted Leeds were not at their best but was delighted with the result.

He said: "At the end of the season, you look back on certain matches where you've not played well but won - and that's what we've done today."

NORWICH 0 WALSALL 0

BOSS Paul Lambert was baffled after referee Russell Booth failed to award Norwich a 'stonewall' penalty.

Canaries' sub Cody McDonald clearly had his shirt tugged by Manny Smith in the 70th minute but Booth saw no infringement.

Lambert asked: "Why wasn't it a penalty when Cody had his jersey pulled? It was blatant, a stonewaller. Everybody else seemed to see it."

It also needed Walsall boss Chris Hutchings to clarify why Booth had earlier ruled out a 62nd-minute effort from Norwich defender Michael Nelson, who bullet-headed home Paul McVeigh's corner.

But Nottinghamshire official Booth whistled and Hutchings later pointed out that defender Clayton McDonald - on loan from Manchester City - had been fouled.

Hutchings said: "Clayton got pushed in the back and the referee spotted it. There were that many bodies in there, you couldn't see clearly but there was a definite push."

Walsall had the better of a poor first half with Troy Deeney's glancing header flying inches over the bar in the 35th minute.

Just after the restart Darren Byfield darted clear of Nelson but dragged his shot past the far post.

Hutchings added: "If we had come away without anything, it would have been unjust.

"On another day we might have got the three points. It was a big team performance and it's a good point."

BRIGHTON 1 WYCOMBE 0

NICKY FORSTER fired Brighton to their first win of the season to leapfrog fellow strugglers Wycombe.

Striker Forster, who is 36 on Tuesday, made it six goals in seven appearances against Wycombe when he tapped home the 75th-minute winner from a sliderule ball from sub Dean Cox.

Brighton manager Russell Slade said: "We're moving in the right direction.

"But there's a lot of work still to be done."

Wanderers manager Peter Taylor said: "My players have got to start believing in themselves. We're players only in patches."

CARLISLE 3 TRANMERE 0

CARLISLE used tough-guy tactics to grab their first home win of the season.

Happy boss Greg Abbott said: "We were determined and took no prisoners. We're developing a nasty edge to our game."

United were helped when Rovers full-back Shaleum Logan was sent off for two bookable offences just before the break.

First the player on loan from Manchester City pulled Matty Robson's shirt. Then he elbowed him.

Joe Anyinsah hit the first on the hour. Danny Livesey headed the second and Ian Harte nodded the third.

GILLINGHAM 3 EXETER 0

BOSS Paul Tisdale slammed Exeter as "terrible" after this emphatic defeat.

Tisdale added: "It was a bad day, but we don't have too many of them.

"I have to be careful what I say because it's what happens next that counts."

The Grecians went behind in the fifth minute when Marcus Stewart tripped Barry Fuller and Simeon Jackson scored from the penalty spot.

Soon after half-time Richard Duffy fluffed a header and Jackson grabbed his second.

And Gillingham substitute Luke Rooney completed the misery for Tisdale 12 minutes from time with a sweet left-foot finish.

SOTON 0 COLCHESTER 0

NEW Colchester boss Aidy Boothroyd scolded "daft" Kemal Izzet for an early red card that could have proved costly.

Izzet stupidly took out Adam Lallana with a reckless tackle to leave United a man short for 54 minutes.

Boothroyd said: "He's not a bad lad and there's no malice in him. It was just a daft thing to do."

Saints are still looking for their first league victory and boss Alan Pardew said: "We did enough to win."

Ashley Vincent came closest to scoring for the 10-man visitors, hitting the bar just before half-time.

BRISTOL R 2 MILLWALL 0

A CHRIS LINES blockbuster from 25 yards sealed victory for Rovers.

His right-foot half-volley into the top corner in the 63rd minute left Millwall keeper David Forde helpless.

Rovers had gone ahead on 26 minutes when Andy Frampton tripped Jeff Hughes who blasted the penalty into the top corner.

The win took Rovers into fourth place as Millwall's cruel luck with injuries continued, striker Gary Alexander suffering an ankle problem.

Manager Kenny Jackett said: "We've already got 10 senior players out. I shall do my best to strengthen the team in the next few days."

CHARLTON 2 BRENTFORD 0

PHIL PARKINSON has taken a leaf out of psychic Uri Geller's book to get his players on a record six-game winning streak.

Lloyd Sam scored one and set up another in the first half to maintain Charlton's lead at the top.

Boss Parkinson said: "From the first day of pre-season, we spoke about a winning mentality and positive mental attitude."

Brentford gifted their hosts a goal on 11 minutes allowing Sam to give Deon Burton a simple finish.

Sam capped a brilliant 15-pass combination by slotting home the second on the half-hour mark.

MK DONS 2 HUDDERSFIELD 3

PAUL INCE blamed a lack of concentration as his Dons side crashed to defeat after twice being ahead.

Boss Ince said: "You're at your most vulnerable when you score and we got caught out twice."

A Jemal Johnson 20-yarder put the Dons ahead but Jordan Rhodes levelled after defender David McCracken failed to clear.

Jermaine Easter restored MK's lead which lasted two minutes before Theo Robinson made it 2-2.

Huddersfield's Antony Kay nodded a 78th minute winner and boss Lee Clark said: "Our character and attitude saw us through."

YEOVIL 0 SWINDON 1

SWINDON manager Danny Wilson toasted the Robins' first away win before taking a swipe at over-zealous match officials.

Terrell Forbes headed a clearance into his own net in the 41st minute to give Swindon the points.

But Wilson was sent to the stands by referee Jarnail Singh on the hour after a dispute with counterpart Terry Skiverton.

Wilson said: "It was pathetic, really. It was nothing other than a matter of opinion until the fourth official got involved."

Skiverton fumed: "Luck was against us all day."

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