ANDY Gray admits he is 'reasonably happy with his own performances' following his transfer from Sheffield United prior to the Premiership curtain-raiser.

Now he wants to add goals to his impressive form.

The Sunderland striker has drawn praise from both fans and boss Mick McCarthy for his wholehearted performances, despite netting only once since his move from Bramall Lane - on his debut in the opening fixture of the season against Charlton.

Although the praise is welcome, Gray reckons he won't be fully satisfied until he finally starts finding the back of net on a regular basis.

"As a striker you want to score goals, that is what you're judged on," said the £1m forward.

"Maybe you have to sacrifice yourself a bit more than you would usually do in the Championship but it would be nice to get a few more goals.

"People say that a striker's position is probably the hardest to play and they're probably right. You can work your socks off for 90 minutes but not score and that is what a striker is judged on. But in our situation there is more to the game than just scoring goals."

Fellow striker Stephen Elliott has been the main beneficiary of Gray sacrificing his own game for the good of the side and he has managed to net a couple of goals in the process.

The 27-year-old, who has started all but two of Sunderland's Premier League games this season, believes the partnership can reap further dividends should McCarthy continue to stick with the pair.

"It's going well and he's (Elliott) managed to score a couple of goals," said Gray.

"But you don't get as many chances at this level. We have been creating space for others and doing the other side of a striker's job.

"In the Championship I got most of my goals in and around the box but you don't get many scraps in the box at this level.

"It seems most of our goals have been from outside the box. But it's a team effort, as long as we stay up it doesn't matter who scores the goals."

Sunderland were one of the bookies' favourites for the drop at the beginning of the new campaign. The lack of Premiership experience and doubts about players making the step up from Championship football were the two main criticisms pointed at the Wearsiders.

Gray admitted it has been tough but believes the Black Cats are finally starting to adapt to life in the top flight, as recent performances have proved.

He said: "It's hard to take when we've played well and got nothing from the games like we have done recently, especially the one at Newcastle ,when it meant so much to everyone.

"At the beginning of the season we knew we weren't going to win every game but we've taken heart from the performances. It is just a case of picking up some points."

Gray believes Portsmouth's visit to the Stadium of Light is every bit as big as last week's Tyne-Wear derby, with three points at stake again.

"Every game is massive" said the former Leeds and Bradford frontman. "I don't think you can identify games and say we can win this one or lose that one. You have to believe you can win every game no matter who you play otherwise you'll end up not doing yourself any justice."

Read more about Sunderland here.