Championship - Burnley promoted to Premier League

Eurosport - Tue, 26 May 17:18:00 2009

Burnley were promoted to the Premier League after a wonder-goal by Wade Elliott gave them a 1-0 Championship play-off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley.

Burnley's Wade Elliott (second left) celebrates scoring the opening goal, FOOTBALL - 0

Former non-league midfielder Elliott curled home a beautiful shot from outside the area to put the side that finished fifth in the second tier of English football in the top flight for the first time in 33 years.

While United came two places higher in the league than the Clarets, Owen Coyle's side have an excellent big-match pedigree, having knocked four Premier League clubs out of cup competitions this season, and had beaten Blades both home and away in the league this season.

It was a superb strike in an ordinary match that was over as a contest when, with 11 minutes remaining, substitute Jamie Ward was shown a red card for two bookings in five minutes.

A tense first half was low on quality as both sides struggled to string a succession of passes together with the ball in the air as often as the deck.

So the moment of brilliance that gave a 13th-minute lead to Coyle's over-achievers - who have the fourth-lowest budget in the Championship - was as anomalous as it was spectacular.

Elliott picked the ball up just inside his own half and, after deciding that a run would be better than a pass, skipped past Steven Quinn, surged towards goal and played the ball to Chris McCann on the edge of the box.

McCann was tackled by Matthew Kilgallon and the ball broke back to Elliott who simply passed it high and curling into the top-left corner with Paddy Kenny flying across in vain.

United laboured to get a leveller but rarely threatened in the first half, with Craig Beattie ploughing a lone furrow up front and rarely supported by the midfield or wide players Greg Halford and David Cotterill.

They did, however, have a good call for a penalty rejected when Brian Howard seemed to be tripped in the box by Graham Alexander.

Referee Mike Dean was a controversial appointment, criticised by Blades boss Kevin Blackwell for sending off Kilgallon in a league game earlier in the season, and he infuriated them once more by waving away appeals.

Dean also dismissed four more penalty claims by United, all in the second half, although unlike Howard's they were dubious at best.

Burnley, meanwhile, sat back and waited for the opportunity to get the ball up to strike duo Steven Thompson and Martin Paterson, both of whom went close with a header and curling shot respectively.

The second half was easier on the eye, with more chances and better football from both sides.

Michael Duff almost turned in a Thompson header after Robbie Blake's corner, while substitute Joey Gudjonsson could not believe his own eyes when Nick Montgomery cleared his close-range finish off the line after Thompson knocked the ball across goal.

Kyle Naughton, who was playing at left-back but appeared to be everywhere at times, saved United's bacon with a last-gasp challenge to deny Blake an easy finish after Burnley sprung the offside trap.

As the second half progressed, Blades were starting to look more threatening, with more possession and a sense of urgency, but Burnley keeper Brian Jensen only had to make one real save, at the feet of Ward when he raced clear down the left minutes after coming on.

But they were dealt a huge blow by the stupidity of Ward, who picked up two needless yellows in quick succession, both for deliberate handballs one 74 and 79 minutes.

United boss Kevin Blackwell threw on Arturo Lupoli as his side pumped the ball forward looking for an equaliser.

In doing so they left huge gaps at the back and Burnley should have got a second, first when Jay Rogriguez was put in on the right with his side three on who but he shot straight at Kenny with fellow sub Chris Eagles free in the middle, and then when Eagles himself worked a superb chance with a mazy dribble but opted to try and beat Chris Morgan when he should have either shot or played Paterson in.

Five minutes of injury time set Clarets' pulses racing but by this point United were a spent force and it is Burnley who - along with automatically-promoted sides Wolves and Birmingham - will be playing Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal next season.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 301 - 320 of 320

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  1. Owen Coyle going to Celtic is nonsense.Managing any­ team in The premier leauge in England would be­ better.All he has to do is keep Burnley up next season­ and he can have his pick of most premiership teams.I­ live in Scotland and have to watch the drivel up­ here.
    If you put Rangers and Celtic together you still­ wouldnt have a decent championship side
    If you asked­ any premiership manager,I bet there is not one player­ in the SPL that they would really wish to sign right­ now
    Stay where you are Owen

    From tptcel, on Wed 27 May 6:42PM

  2. I would like to say thank you to all the Sheff. U. fans­ who have been gracious in defeat. I only hope Burnley­ can stay up for a few seasons, like Bolton and Wigan. ­ Or Liverpool! :-)

    From iansonichughes, on Wed 27 May 5:35PM

  3. From a serious Blades fan-well done Burnley-Sheffield­ Utd were rubbish on the day and never looked like­ scoring.
    To those sneering West Ham fans-yes--your club­ was found guilty in a court of law and is paying up a­ few millions in punishment. Can we not now put that all­ behind us and get on with supporting the clubs we love?

    From mrjohnjrigby, on Wed 27 May 4:12PM

  4. Welcome back Burnley fans, i look forward to you­ renewing your rivalry with The Dingles over in­ Blackburn...i used to live In Burnley, in Daneshouse!­ Not exactly the nicest neighbourhood but having been to­ Tirf Moor a few times, the fans are noisy and get­ behind their team, which is what you need in the­ prem...something you dont hear at Ewood or the Reebok­ or the JJB...maybe you can emulate Stoke next season??

    From Koppite 1973, on Wed 27 May 10:06AM

  5. I've just seen the 'Homecoming' on Granada­ and there's some good looking lasses in Burnley­ Netzer, well done! :)

    Plus I've heard they do the­ best pies in the World there! :)

    What more could you­ ask? Again, all the best for next season, good to see­ another North West club in the Premiership. I hope you­ do well.

    Everton FC fan

    From STEVE C, on Wed 27 May 9:58AM

  6. Well done to Burnley F.C.
    They represent what football­ should be all about, before big money, big business and­ the diving prima donna players took over.
    They have­ done superbly well considering the limited resources­ and the size of the squad. They are an inspiration to­ all the "little teams" of this world.
    I am a­ Londoner married to a Burnley lass and have been living­ just outside Burnley for some 10 years now. My little­ lad is a huge claret fan and I was as happy as punch­ at Wembley with him on Monday when they went up. What a­ day and what a season.
    Finally I thought the Sheffield­ Utd fans we met on the services on the M1 on the way­ back up were superb. They were gracious in defeat and I­ wish them all the very best in the years ahead.
    Well­ done Burnley FC.
    From a Barnet supporter.
    .

    From Netzer, on Wed 27 May 5:59AM

  7. Just want to say well done to Burnley. Just like Hull­ last year they thoroughly deserve a crack at the big­ teams, theyve allready beat the best London has to­ offer this season

    From Mick, on Wed 27 May 3:08AM

  8. 335, well said, they are a good town team, good spirit,­ but most of all a peoples club, makes a change from­ clubs being pulled away from the joe soap fans for the­ money. Most football fans are well chuffed for you

    From Colin H, on Wed 27 May 2:29AM

  9. Ross H, I've do a lot of Sheff slagging off on here­ but also congratulated your team, but again i will say ­ well done you deserve it, watched the highlights, only­ one team in it. Burnley like West Ham have always had­ good footballing traditions, your youth policies­ produced some great players, welcome back, hope it goes­ well.

    From Colin H, on Wed 27 May 2:20AM

  10. Well done to Burnley, a good working mans club and a­ team with great traditions, only people with limited­ football knowledge will deny its a good thing that your­ back. I think the premier league will be alot better­ with clubs like Burnley rather than clubs like­ Newcastle who are a disgrace to foootball!!

    Welcome­ back, Manchester United Fan!!

    From paulsheridan, on Wed 27 May 1:33AM

  11. Absolutely brilliant to read so many positive messages­ from other fans around the country, did'nt know we­ had so many friends in football. On behalf all Clarets­ fans a very big thank you.

    From Ross H, on Wed 27 May 1:20AM

  12. really nice to see all top clubs in prem saying they­ glad to see us back in top flight again after 33­ yrs,,,top comments,,
    thanks,,,b,f,c

    From dave, on Tue 26 May 11:39PM

  13. I expect Sheffield United will find some pretext for­ sueing Burnley over this result

    From Paul, on Tue 26 May 8:44PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    An easy 6 points for Blackburn Rovers. Burnley, down­ after one season.

    From sean c, on Tue 26 May 6:33PM

  15. Sheffield were never even put us under pressure­ yesterday. A well deserved win for the clarets and a­ fantastic season overall. Only time will tell if­ Burnley can make in in the top flight but one things­ for sure we will fight until the death. 61 games this­ season and only using 23 players not many can say they­ have done the same!

    From kathandy5, on Tue 26 May 6:16PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    man u ­ ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu­ uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu­ uuuuuulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll­ lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll­ lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll­ lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll­ lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll­ lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll­ llllllllllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeurls

    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ e

    looooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssssssssssssssssssse­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssss­ ss

    From Lewis, on Tue 26 May 5:54PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A few thumbs down, as i expected, obviously sheffturd­ fc, nothing to say without a lawyer present, mugs

    From Colin H, on Tue 26 May 5:03PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I woke up this morning full of the joys of life, I­ thought West Ham had won the PL, then i remembered they­ hadn't, but it was better, sheffturd fc failed­ again, har har har har har har

    From Colin H, on Tue 26 May 4:19PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    withey paul, good comment and true, but be careful you­ know what sheffturd fc are like, you will get reported­ and sued. Gutless team on the pitch and off.

    From Colin H, on Tue 26 May 4:06PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Burnley one more club with poor attendance record can­ the premium league survive without Newcastle­ Middlesbrough, I think not.

    From graham.binney, on Tue 26 May 4:02PM
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