Max Gradel made it two-in-two-games when he scored one of the goals in United's convincing 3-1 win against Carlisle United at Brunton Park.

It was just reward for the hard-working attacker from the Ivory Coast who earned his place in the starting line-up on Tuesday night following another telling display in the week-end win over Southend.

Competition for places, particularly up front, has hotted up recently and there was another indication of this when manager Simon Grayson named leading scorer Jermaine Beckford on the bench.

Recently Max said he was tired after working so hard in training but after the win at Brunton Park he brushed that comment aside saying: "Tired? You don't feel tired when you are winning and you are in the team.

"The confidence has returned to the team after the last few games. It's a very good dressing room to be around. Everyone works very hard and it is not easy to get into the team now. Everyone is fighting to get into the side so I think that is only good for the club.

"When you are out of the side it is not easy but what you have to do is keeping working hard and when your chance comes be ready to grab it. That's what I have done and I am going to work hard to stay in the team," he said.
 
Mindful of some other results and United's return to League One's second place,   Max said: "It is amazing how things turn around but that is what football is like. We need to keep things going now until the end. We have to keep believing in ourselves, and that is what the manager has been saying to us, and we will be alright.

"We have been in this position before, now we just need to keep doing what we are doing."

Extended highlights plus reaction from Brunton Park...