Michael Gray made a surprise appearance in left midfield for last night's Carling Cup game against Morecambe.

Normally patrolling at left-back, the former Sunderland man was deployed further up field in a much changed team from the one that faced Blackpool last Saturday.

Michael said: "The gaffer asked me on Monday if I'd play left midfield and I was happy to give it a go.

"It's the first time I've played there for a long while, apart from half a game for Blackburn last season.

"Midfield was my position when I started as an apprentice and my first five or six years at Sunderland were in that position before I was converted to a full-back.

"Over the years I've played in a lot of different positions - including centre-back and right midfield - and I'm happy to play anywhere."

'Happy' was the last word Michael would have used, however, to describe the mood in the camp after last night's defeat.

He added: "It's always frustrating when you lose a game like that.

"Expectation levels are high and people think you've just got to turn up to win. But it's never like that.

"For Morecambe it was their cup final but give them credit, they played very well."