ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF: Reading 0 Burnley 2:BURNLEY'S SEASON must have felt like a marathon but no one at Turf Moor will be complaining about the addition of a 61st fixture on Monday week.
Wembley and a meeting with Sheffield United await Owen Coyle and his players after two superb second-half goals from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson left Reading chastened. From being on the brink of relegation to the Conference 22 years ago, the Championship club are now 90 minutes from the Premier League.
It is quite a story and one few will begrudge Burnley after their exploits in the Carling Cup this season, where Chelsea and Arsenal were vanquished en route to the semi-finals.
That record was a warning to Reading, although Steve Coppell’s side were already gripped with a sense of foreboding after failing to win their previous eight matches at the Madejski Stadium. When Paterson struck his 19th goal of the season there was little doubt that the run would be extended.
Coppell, alluding to Reading’s dismal home record as much as their one-goal deficit from the first leg, had spelt out the size of the task beforehand. “We have a hell of a mountain to climb,” said the Reading’s manager.
Burnley, with 10 men behind the ball and their most creative players, Chris Eagles and Joey Gudjonsson, on the bench, were ready for the early onslaught.
Reading duly dominated possession during the first half but the visitors coped comfortably with the pressure. Shane Long, the frontrunner in a 4-2-3-1 formation, was often isolated as Marek Matejovsky, Jimmy Kebe and Simon Church struggled to get close enough to offer him support.
Indeed, a set-piece was the source of Long’s and Reading’s only decent opportunity before the interval. Jay Tabb whipped in a free-kick from close to the touchline and Long swivelled to hit a ball goalbound. Brian Jensen dived to his left to parry and Michael Duberry hooked over from around 12 yards.
At the opposite end, goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann had been a spectator for much of the opening 45 minutes as there was little ambition to the visitors’ approach.
Chris McCann’s run down the left flank culminated in Wade Elliott connecting sweetly with the midfielder’s cross only for Tabb to deflect the ball over. But after 50 minutes there was no reprieve for Reading. Paterson picked up possession midway inside the Reading half and strode forward before curling a glorious left-footed shot from 30 yards beyond Hahnemann. Coppell’s response was to introduce Dave Kitson, Glen Little and Stephen Hunt but more misery soon followed for Reading.
Rosenior lost out in a tussle with Thompson on the edge of the penalty area and the former Cardiff striker struck a dipping volley past Hahnemann and over the line via the underside of the crossbar.
Cue raucous celebrations among the travelling fans, many of whom cannot recall when Burnley were last in the top flight, in 1976.
GuardianService
READING:Hahnemann, Rosenior, Pearce, Duberry, Harding, Kebe (Kitson 53), Gunnarsson, Matejovsky (Stephen Hunt 52), Tabb, Church (Little 53), Long. Subs not used: Federici, Cisse. Booked: Duberry, Kitson, Long.
BURNLEY:Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Kalvenes, Elliott (Eagles 84), Alexander, McCann, Paterson (Gudjonsson 71), Thompson (Rodriguez 79), Blake. Subs not used: Penny, McDonald. Booked: Kalvenes, Elliott.
Referee:M Riley (Yorkshire).
Championship Play-off Final
Sheffield United v Burnley
Monday, May 25th
Wembley Stadium, 3pm
Irish Senior Squad Members
With Sheffield United
1 Paddy KennyGoalkeeper
18 Jamie WardStriker
21 John Joe O'TooleMidfielder
(on loan from Watford)
26 Derek GearyDefender
27 Keith QuinnMidfielder
28 Stephen QuinnMidfielder
With Burnley
4 Michael DuffDefender
14 Steve JonesStriker
(on loan to Bradford)
16 Chris McCannMidfielder
