ONE Sunderland fan who's backing Kevin Ball to turn things around at the Stadium of Light is Blackburn Rovers' Michael Gray.

Gray spent more than 12 years with the Black Cats before falling victim to the purge following their last relegation from the top flight in 2003.

Gray, who initially went on loan to Celtic before a securing a permanent move to Ewood Park in January 2004, remains first and foremost a Sunderland fan.

"If there's any man who deserves to have a crack at managing this club, it's him," the 31-year-old, who received a hero's reception before kick-off.

"If he can get performances like that out of his team, he should get it.

"He was a huge influence on my career. He was my captain for many years, he helped me along as a youngster, he was a tremendous captain not just on but off the pitch as well.

"You can see that today, the way he's helped the young bunch of lads here. He likes to get the best out of people and he's done that today.

"You can't be silly. It's going to be nigh on impossible for them to stay up, but you need a bit of passion in the Championship. There will be a few teams who can scrap and play football, but you need true grit, as well, and that's why I think Kevin is the right man for the job.

"Everyone here should give him their full backing, to help him improve the squad and get this squad back to where it deserves to be, in the Premiership, and not just for one season."

Most of Gray's immediate family were there to witness his return to the Wearside and he admitted the whole occasion got to him.

He has watched the side as a fan this season but his counterparts at the Stadium of Light who cheered him before kick-off, however, were baying for his blood in injury time when he flew into Julio Arca to earn Rovers' only yellow card of the game.

"It's a game that I wasn't really looking forward to," said Gray.

"I knew I would have a lot of friends here who come to the games. It was very draining for me. I wanted to get it out of the way.

"I got a fantastic reception. One of those times when you'd like to go round every individual and thank them. They obviously appreciated the fact that I'd given my all for 12 and a half years here, and it was very emotional to start with and I was really pleased about that.

"They're a loyal bunch of fans, and they certainly got behind the team once the whistle went.

"I've been here a couple of times this season - in the FA Cup and Man City - and you can see the crowd still getting behind the team, no more so than today.

"I thought the team did ever so well today, they played to their strengths and gave us a right go, and were very unfortunate not to get something out of the game."

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