Championship - Burnley face Sheffield United in final

Eurosport - Wed, 13 May 13:00:00 2009

Spectacular second-half strikes from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson gave Burnley a 2-0 Championship play-off win at Reading to set-up a Premier League promotion showdown with Sheffield United.

FOOTBALL Burnley's Martin Paterson celebrates scoring for Burnley in their 2-0 Championship play-off second-leg win over Reading at the Madejski - 0

The absence of Kitson in the starting line-up was particularly baffling. An injury to Kevin Doyle in the first leg created a free place up front, but Coppell opted for 20-year-old Simon Church, making his debut after lacklustre loan spells at Leyton Orient, Wycombe Wanderers, Yeovil and Crewe.

But the hosts still dominated the first half, attacking Burnley and playing the kind of passing football that was notably absent in a poor first leg.

Shane Long forced a good stop from Brian Jensen on the quarter hour, and Michael Duberry lobbed the rebound just over as Reading created plenty of space, particularly down the right through the overlapping runs of Jimmy Kebe and Leroy Rosenior.

A mistake from Steven Caldwell allowed Marek Matjovsky to play Long through but Jensen came out to block, his subsequent handball not deemed intentional after the Reading striker's attempted rebound.

On-loan Ipswich left-back Dan Harding stung Jensen's palms with a free-kick just before the break, but ultimately Burnley were well-organised enough to repel most Reading attacks.

The second half saw the Royals stunned by two quite wonderful goals from distance.

Paterson picked up the ball just inside the Reading half and, cutting in from the right, advanced towards goal after being offered little resistance from the home defence.

The decision to back off encouraged him to shoot from around 30 yards, but what followed from the Northern Irishman was quite unexpected.

The 22-year-old former Scunthorpe forward used his left foot to arc a vicious, unstoppable effort that American keeper Marcus Hahnemann could not even touch despite a valiant dive, the ball crashing off the inside of the left-hand post and into the back of the net to send Clarets boss Owen Coyle delirious.

Paterson will do well to equal that effort in his career, and strike partner Thompson added a similarly impressive strike soon afterwards.

Directly following the opener, Coppell brought on the aforementioned trio of Kitson, Hunt and Little.

It had little effect though as, eight minutes later, a long punt from Jensen was won by the head of Thompson.

The former Rangers and Cardiff striker is renowned for his aerial prowess but little else, so a sweet half-volley from the edge of the box that looped over Hahnemann and nestled in the goal was a shock even for the goal-scorer.

Reading were finished, their heads dropping and fans walking out. What followed - Kitson and Long firing over, sub Jay Rodriguez almost snatching a third - was of no consequence, with the only real point of contention being Mike Riley's failure to send off Burnley's Danish left-back Christian Kalvenes after a dreadful tackle that warranted a second yellow card.

Coyle's side - who finished fifth in the league and showed themselves to be cup specialists this season after dispatching Chelsea, Arsenal, Fulham and West Brom from various competitions this season - will face a Sheffield United side determined to avenge the perceived injustice of their relegation two seasons ago in an all-Northern play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 25.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 29 - 48 of 48

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  1. the name is s.u.there the best team in the land and­ when we get prom this year we will think you will under­ stand na na na na na na na na na

    From graeyr, on Fri 15 May 7:50AM

  2. there is 90min left come on you blades do it for the­ fans

    were a big club

    From graeyr, on Fri 15 May 7:42AM

  3. There's no need to fear burnley the Blade's­ would not take you to court if we lost to you,why­ because you have played FAIRLY and we would have lost­ because OF ON THE FIELD playing football.And if you do­ get to the prem you can get on with playing football in­ the knowledge that if you got relagated again it­ won't be because of someone playing an illegal­ player.
    United took to court a cheating ,lieing ,scum­ club not because of football.

    From wendyroebuck67, on Thu 14 May 11:20AM

  4. Come on Burnley....all the lawyers are rooting for you!

    From Dad, on Wed 13 May 9:38PM

  5. dl56uk West ham were my local team when i lived in­ london. i have supported them for over 30 years. i now­ in live in nottingham, and yes, i do watch the local­ team. I have friends/clients who are blades fans and we­ all know the score as regards the tevez affair. just­ get on with it, beat burnley, then we will all see if­ you are good enough to survive in the top flight. by­ the way, playing golf with half a dozen blades fans on­ saturday, all top blokes. [spades a spade if you­ understand my meaning.

    From stewartbeard, on Wed 13 May 8:46PM

  6. will face a Sheffield United side determined to avenge­ the perceived injustice of their relegation two seasons­ ago

    From grant_edley, on Wed 13 May 8:31PM

  7. we dont sue for nothing we sues west hame for a­ reason.
    carlos tevez shouldnt have played and kept them­ up single handedly
    then signing for man u ?

    we beat­ preston fair and square with good football and now its­ burnleys turn!

    From grant_edley, on Wed 13 May 8:29PM

  8. hello from oz,burnley fans l think you will have­ westham fans supporting you next week.probably get sued­ for it probably have the premierleague surpport as­ well.GO BURNEY AND BEAT SHEFFIED [L'LL SUE YOU­ LATER] UNITED,,,,,,,,,

    From Joy C, on Wed 13 May 5:53PM

  9. dl56uk, truth hurts, eh?

    From Alan S, on Wed 13 May 5:06PM

  10. hamsanraziff ???? what a load of @#$% that you spout ya­ just jumping on the sad band wagon get a life u sad­ T**T UP THE BLADES.... 33 hamsanraziff: Be very careful­ Burnley. If you beat United int the­ finals, you might­ get yourself into long process of law­ and court­ sessions. They might sue you. Be sure your­ players are­ totally yours, not loans, or make sure the­ scorer are­ not loan players. Or else they'll­ question.
    Good­ luck in the finals. you sad C**T

    From dl56uk, on Wed 13 May 3:49PM

  11. Comment 44 - Could not agree with you more pal, very­ proud and true words. BURNLEY til I die.

    From Dominic, on Wed 13 May 3:25PM

  12. my family name appears in thre domesday book in­ Burnley. My grandfather (maternal) was a scout for the­ club - he attended the 1914 cup final and ffounded the­ supporters club. My dads dad attended the 1947 cup­ final and we used to take him to the turf in his latter­ years. My dad went to the spurs final.My grandfather­ spent 3 years in the trenches and died in 1979 of lung­ disease he got from german gas. My uncle was a founder­ member of the SAS.My ancestors dug coal and weaved­ cloth. They gained nothing from empire. My granddad­ told me that he would fight again if he knew a free­ society and welfare state would come about from his­ suffering. Burnleys history is one of social­ progression I am proud of my heritage- it breaksmy­ heart to go to the turf and see not onre asian face in­ the crowd. How much they miss out by not embracing the­ heritage of the place they chose to live. Racism is­ endemic to all cultures- it is partof the human­ condition. How dare anyonre suggest that our town or­ our club is 'racist'-up the clarets- my­ heritage, my heart and my life

    From james, on Wed 13 May 2:39PM

  13. Mobileclay Its you whos the loser get a life ! And I­ suggest you get out and stay out of any football ground­ in the country with biggoted comments like that! Pity­ any football fan who has the misfortune of being sat by­ you at a match listening to your bull ! Play on Burnley­ and Blades and gives us a playoff final to savour !

    From Joolz, on Wed 13 May 1:32PM

  14. To mobileclay

    oooooh the premier league good enough­ only for those nice people like Arsenal or Manchester­ perhaps- since when have Burnley FC or their fans been­ racist? And how come out of the 7 games Burnley have­ had against premier league opposition they won 6 and­ lost 1. Newcastle have only just manaqged that trick­ with 36 games- so i dont know what you mean by losers.

    From terry, on Wed 13 May 12:41PM

  15. it would be great to see another north west team in the­ premiership, especially as it looks like we could get­ rid of three north east teams... all we would need then­ is preston, oldham and bury to join the party and for­ someone to bail stockport out!!!
    from a manc red...­ best of luck burnley.

    From eric the king, on Wed 13 May 10:31AM

  16. come on you saints, league one champions next May

    From Braveheart, on Wed 13 May 9:59AM

  17. 33 Yawn yawn yawn.

    From Pete, on Wed 13 May 7:26AM

  18. Be very careful Burnley. If you beat United int the­ finals, you might get yourself into long process of law­ and court sessions. They might sue you. Be sure your­ players are totally yours, not loans, or make sure the­ scorer are not loan players. Or else they'll­ question.
    Good luck in the finals.

    From hamsanraziff, on Wed 13 May 2:12AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Sir Alex is queuing in his local building society, when­ a gunman bursts in through the door demanding money.­ Ferguson attempts to tackle the raider, but gets­ knocked over...as he falls, his head smashes the­ counter and Sir Alex is out cold. The robber escapes­ and the cashier tries to revive Ferguson. After a few­ minutes he comes round and looks bewildered. His first­ words are "Where the hell am I?". The Cashier­ replies: "don't worry, its ok, you're in­ the Nationwide." Ferguson replies, "F**k me,­ is it May already?"

    From Stoney McTony, on Wed 13 May 1:39AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What a @#$% well done burnley now do sheffield utd in­ final. sign­ tevez on loan and he will score 4 against­ them ha ha­ ha ha ... If brains was @#$% you would not­ have enough for a skidmark :))

    From cook.kevin23, on­ Tue 12 May

    From dl56uk, on Wed 13 May 1:10AM
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