Aston Villa are into the Championship play-off final thanks in part to Nottingham Forest target Lewis Grabban.
Three days after The Sun (13th May, page 63) reported that Nottingham Forest were keen to sign Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban, the man in question helped loan side Aston Villa seal a place in the Championship play-off final at Middesbrough’s expense.
It has been a superb campaign for Grabban, who netted a combined 20 goals during loan spells at Sunderland and Villa throughout 2017/18, encouraging Bournemouth to demand £5 million for his signature.
So it is no wonder why a Forest side who finished closer to the relegation zone than the top six are interested, particularly as no one in Aitor Karanka’s squad reached double figures last season.
And while Grabban did not get on the scoresheet across 180 minutes against Boro, his performance at Villa Park in the second leg on Tuesday showed just what he would offer to a rather toothless Forest attack.
Grabban ran the visitor’s defence ragged in the second half, forcing three fine saves from Darren Randolph, the latter coming from a thunderous shot from almost 30 yards out. It was a hard-working, unselfish display that opened up pockets of space for the midfielders and gave Villa a much-needed outlet in attack.
Now, thanks in part to his line-leading display, Grabban is in a position to claim the third Championship promotion of his career.
Time will tell whether he could have a similar impact at the City Ground next season.
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