Some believed Lewis Grabban would have fired Leeds United to promotion this season.
It would have summed up the dispiriting end to Leeds United’s season if Lewis Grabban had popped up in the 121st minute at Wembley and fired Reading into the Premier League on Monday.
That he didn’t, however, at least gives supporters some respite. Grabban appears unlikely to be playing top flight football next season after Huddersfield Town defeated Reading in the penalty shoot-out to spark wild scenes in a more easterly part of Yorkshire.
Therefore, any Leeds supporters who may have endured a few sleepless nights wondering if Grabban had prevented a late-season slip which saw the club miss out on the top six altogether can take solace in knowing the 29-year-old made little impact at the Madejski.
In 19 games, Grabban netted just three goals. And, with the score still goalless after 75 minutes of the Championship Play-Off Final, the strike was hooked by manager Jaap Stam.
He failed to hit the target with either of his attempts on the Huddersfield goal.
Therefore, although Leeds United’s overreliance on top scorer Chris Wood eventually cost them dear, rescuing Grabban from his Bournemouth nightmare in January (Daily Mirror) was unlikely to have prevented them from falling at the final hurdle.
Grabban may have fired Norwich to promotion two years ago but, if his short-term spell at Reading was anything to go by, he would not have had the same impact at Elland Road.
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