By Mark Mitchener

Confidence is a major part of my game and at the moment I'm very confident Wayne Gray

Yeovil striker Wayne Gray is hoping to complete a hat-trick of promotion campaigns this spring.

Gray helped Southend rise from League Two to the Championship in two seasons, before joining the Glovers last summer.

"We've got a very strong squad with a good team spirit, and that's the main thing behind a promotion team," the 26-year-old told BBC Sport.

"We've beaten some of the top teams but anyone can beat anyone in this league - it's just about finding consistency."

The Glovers - famed as FA Cup giant-killers from their non-League days - are still in only their fourth season as a Football League team.

However, a run of five wins from their last six away games - capped by Tuesday's 2-0 success at Bournemouth - has propelled them into contention for promotion to the second tier.

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"The lads worked hard to bounce back from the defeat by Tranmere at the weekend," said Gray, who scored the opener against the Cherries.

"We needed a response against Bournemouth and we got one - we soaked up a lot of pressure and hit them on the break, and when you've got a lead to hold on to, you grow in confidence.

"Our goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall was tremendous, he pulled off five or six great saves to keep us in the game - which is what he's paid for."

Gray's two-year spell in Southend's colours ended last summer when he turned down a new deal to move to Yeovil on a two-year contract.

However, he signed off by writing his name into Shrimpers folklore by scoring the winning goal against Bristol City on the final day of the season that ensured the League One title headed to Southend rather than their Essex rivals Colchester.

WAYNE GRAY FACTFILE Born: London, 7.11.80 Position: Striker 1999-2004: Wimbledon 2000: Swindon (loan) 2000: Port Vale (loan) 2001-2002: Leyton Orient (loan) 2002: Brighton (loan) 2004-2006: Southend 2006-date: Yeovil

"I didn't really want to leave Southend at the time, but sometimes you've got to move on as you never know what can happen in the future," he explained.

"Somerset is a massive difference to Essex, but I'm enjoying my football.

"We've done well, but it's not surprising as we've got a good squad and the manager has brought in some good players who have done the business.

"I've been on the bench lately, but now I've got my chance I hope I can take it and stay in the team as long as possible.

"I'm pleased to be on the scoresheet again at Bournemouth, but I was pleased to be on the pitch again, really.

"As a striker, you want to be in the team as much as possible - you want the manager and the team to believe in you, and to take your opportunities when you can.

"Confidence is a major part of my game and at the moment I'm very confident."

Another major factor in the Glovers' recent resurgence has been on-loan Southampton striker Leon Best, who scored 10 goals in 15 games but has now had to return to St Mary's after his three-month loan spell ended.

Seven of Best's goals came away from Huish Park, and Gray added: "It's a great shame Leon has to go back.

"I've just got myself back into the team after Marcus Stewart got injured a couple of games ago, and I had a good partnership with Leon.

Gray scored the goal that secured the League One title last season

"But the manager told us after the game that we've now got to be as ruthless at home as we are away.

"You have to stick together and be ready to fight for each other, as the best teams are the fighting teams who can grind out results and come from behind to win like we did at Carlisle when we won 4-1.

"If we can pull out a few more results like that, who knows what might happen. If we can bring our away form back home, I think we can get promoted - and if we don't, we can go through the play-offs and win that."

Although Gray's old club Southend are battling against an immediate return to League One, the striker feels Yeovil can take heart from how another unfancied "small" club have performed in the Championship this season.

"No-one expected Colchester to do as well as they've done," he insisted.