Vokes brings out best of me – Gray

The 24-year-old, who hit double figures for the term in the midweek win against Fulham, was utilised as a lone forward for the majority of his days at Brentford with former Bees boss Mark Warburton opting to employ a 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation.

But the record signing has thrived in a 4-4-2 with the Welsh international, making it a perfect 10 with a third successive brace at Turf Moor in the 3-1 triumph over Kit Symons’ side which moved the Clarets level with Hull City at the division’s summit.

Gray beat Ryan Tunnicliffe to head David Jones’s delivery past Joe Lewis in the 18th minute before doubling his tally for the evening in the 37th minute when converting confidently from Scott Arfield’s perfectly weighted pass.

“I’m buzzing to get double figures and it has come quite quickly,” he said. “I should’ve had a hat-trick really but it wasn’t to be.

“It’s frustrating but I’m getting closer - I hit the crossbar today and hit one just over. But we’re winning so it doesn’t really matter. I’m sure it will come.

“I’m confident so it’s just a case of shooting. I don’t really think about it at the minute. When you’re not that confident you start to over think things.

“Even with the lob I knew what I wanted to do as soon as it came over the top. That’s the way it’s going at the minute and hopefully it continues.”

The £6m man added: “The fans have been great with me and so have the boys. We’re playing well at the minute and I’ve got a great partnership with Vokesy.

“Even though he hasn’t scored, he’s the reason I’m scoring these goals. He’s doing the work.

“We’re both working hard but they’re falling for me at the minute and I know it’s going to fall for him soon. We’ll both start hitting the net.

“It taught me a lot when I learned to play on my own but I’ve got both sides of that game now.

“I know when I’ve got to hold up play a bit better from before I went to Brentford but Vokesy takes the pressure off me a lot and that’s why I’m scoring the amount of goals that I am at the minute.

“It’s fantastic and I want to get him a goal because he deserves it. I think if people watch the game properly they’ll see all the work that he’s doing to create the space for me. I’m sure I can repay him the favour.

“He relieves the pressure off us and gives the defenders something to think about.

“They don’t know whether to go with me or to go with Vokesy; they know they have to win the first header otherwise I’m in.

“He can get in the hole and gives them a decision to make which makes it difficult for them.

“He’s bringing out the best of me, massively. He’s giving me the freedom to go in behind and, as I say, I want to repay him. Hopefully I can set him up as many times as he’s done with me.”