Former Leeds manager Grayson puts positive spin on play-off finish

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The popular theory is that the disappointment of missing out on the Championship’s top two will negatively impact Leeds United’s morale ahead of the forthcoming play-offs.

But all things being equal, they are more than capable of clambering out of the second tier via that route, as Fulham did last season despite narrowing missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season.

And former Leeds boss Simon Grayson has told his old club to embrace the play-offs, having been in them nine times throughout his managerial career.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Grayson said: “I tend to look at it positively anyway because the play-offs are brilliant. You were second and you’ve finished third but, if we were sixth and finished seventh, we’d be done and dusted and you’d all be on the beach. So think of that as a good thing.”

“Records are often irrelevant. Usually you’re talking about different managers, players, eras and opponents so the fact that Leeds didn’t do it ten or 20 years ago has no bearing on anything. It might help them because a record like that has to end sometime, just like it did for Preston.”

Mentality is the key for Leeds going into the play-offs. If they embrace it as the massive opportunity that it is, then there’s absolutely no reason why they can’t come through and win.

But if there’s a feeling of ‘here we go again’ or impatience on the pitch or in the stands, it means Leeds won’t be at their absolute best.