Burnley skipper Steven Caldwell is still pinching himself as he prepares for a £50million game which could send his team into the promised land of the Barclays Premier League.
The Clarets face Sheffield United in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final on Monday as they bid to return to the top flight for the first time in 33 years.
Yet back in August Burnley looked more likely to spend the season fighting relegation. Hammered 4-1 at Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day and thumped 3-0 at home by Ipswich the following week, it took Coyle's side five attempts to register their first win.
"It was obviously a very difficult start after such a good pre-season," said Caldwell, who has played in the Premier League with Newcastle, Leeds and Sunderland. "We had a great trip to America and everything was positive, but in the first two games we had two terrible defeats and we just couldn't believe it.
"I'm sure we were all sat there individually thinking `what is going on?' But we had confidence and belief in ourselves and one of the biggest compliments I can give the manager is that he never changes.
"If we are winning 10 games in a row or losing 10 games in a row, he's exactly the same. You never sense any kind of pressure from him."
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This week we've seen Blackwell and the Sheff Utd use the media to try and put pressure on the ref and win the sympathy of neutral supporters with the 'we should have never been relegated in 2007, bo, ho, bo, ho.....Arn't West Ham a bad bunch ??? Blah, Blah.....
I've seen Burnley, keep their composure, keep their focus and self belief......Plus thank the supporters who have followed them through thick and thin over the last 30 years........
Burnley will continue with the season on Monday, finish the job and mover on from there.
Well done to Owen Coyle, Sandy Stewart and Steve Davis.......Great Job.............
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