SKIPPER Michael Gray last night promised manager Peter Reid that his Sunderland players will ensure he carries on shouting the odds at the Stadium of Light.

Saturday's unfortunate 1-0 home defeat by Everton piled on the agony for under-fire Reid, who saw striker Kevin Phillips fail yet again from the penalty spot as the Wearsiders desperately tried to claw their way back into the game.

But Gray, whose infamous spot-kick calamity condemned Sunderland to defeat in the First Division play-off final at Wembley in 1998, revealed how Reid still instils a fear that inspires his side.

Gray also dispelled the opinion in some quarters that the usually bullish Reid is beginning to lose heart in his struggle to revive the Black Cats' fortunes.

"He hasn't been downbeat with us,'' said Gray. "He's bubbly in training: every single day he's out there with us.

"He gets his point across and he's been brilliant. If someone needs a rollicking, he gives it out.

"He's somebody the players have always looked up to. I've been with him here all the way through and you still get a shiver when he shouts at you.

"He's still got the respect of the players and he's still someone you want to do well for.

"I've no doubt that we're going to get it right for him. We played great at Blackburn to draw on the opening day. Maybe we should have won this game, but when you come off the pitch knowing that, it puts you in good stead for the next game.''

Sunderland need to be. They face a trip to Leeds on Wednesday followed by an equally-daunting visit by Manchester United on Saturday.

But Gray maintained: "We're all confident. Anyone who saw the first 25 minutes against Everton would have thought we were great.

"But when we get those spells, we have to create chances and take them.

"I don't know whether this was a game we needed to win, but we thought it was one we could win.

"Unfortunately, we didn't get the rub of the green. We created some good chances and hit the woodwork, but Everton had a little spell in the first half and that was when they got their goal.

"It was a bit scrappy from our point of view. We kept a clean sheet the previous week and we tried to do the same again.

"When you play at home the bonus is you have the fans and you have to try to get them on your side as quickly as possible.

"I thought we did that at the start of the game and we should have tried to keep pressing.

"We have to try to make this place a fortress again and be hard to beat here.

"I think that's the most important thing.

"If you win your home games and add to your tally away from home, you have a chance of being in the top half of the table, which is where this club deserves to be.

"I just think we need a bit of luck, but we have to make things happen.

"We got enough balls into the box from both wings. We probably didn't do that enough last season.

"The positive thing was that we created a lot of chances in the first and second half, but we have to try to be more patient.''

Not surprisingly, Gray had sympathy for Phillips and backed him to rediscover his touch from the spot after Richard Wright's save meant a fourth successive penalty failure for the England striker.

Phillips also hit the woodwork early in the game, and Gray said: "It was unfortunate for Kevin. The keeper made a good save from the penalty.

"He also saved from Kevin when the ball came back awkwardly and he hit the bar.

"But Kevin's overall game can't be questioned. He's a great player and we all know he's going to get goals because he's a natural scorer and one of the best in the Premiership.

"He has the nerve to keep stepping up to take penalties - and that's something coming from me!

"I'm certain if he gets another one, he'll stick it in the back of the net.''