Bikey madness hands Clarets leg
Last updated : 09 May 2009 By Bladesmadeditor
The image above is copyright to SportBox.TVTwo moments of madness from Andre Bikey meant Reading fell to an unfortunate defeat at Turf Moor. The winners out of this clash meet either Preston North End or Sheffield United at Wembley.
The first-half wasn't pretty but fairly entertaining. Bikey's header was pushed away by Jesen but the ball landed at the feet of Doyle who saw his bolt towards goal cleared off the line by striker Martin Paterson.
Kevin Doyle left the field of play with an Achilles injury and then was shortly followed to the treatment room by Joey Gudjonsson who stumbled off after a rash challenge from Michael Duberry.
Reading pounced on the pressure in the second-period with Kebe, and it left Burnley stranded. Although with eight minutes to go, the game saw a dramatic end. Thompson shrugged of Bikey but seconds later the Reading defender was penalised for a clear shirt-pull on the Burnley forward, and the debate begun to whether the offence took place in or outside the area.
The reliable Graham Alexander stepped up to the plate once again from 12 yards when he stuck the ball past Hanemann. Bikey who just frantically lost his team the first-leg of this two-legged tie, didn't make the situation any better when he saw a straight red for a stamp on Robbie Blake. He was frustrated by the dismissal and he ripped his shirt off.
The Clarets now have the upper hand going into the second-leg at the Madejski Stadium Tuesday night.
| Coca-Cola Football League Play-Offs (Lvl 2), Saturday, 9th May 2009 @ 17:20; Turf Moor |
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| | 8 | Goal Attempts | 6 | | 4 | On Target | 3 | | 4 | Off Target | 3 | | 0 | Hit Woodwork | 0 | | 0 | Offsides | 1 | | 6 | Corners | 5 | | 20 | Fouls | 15 |
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| Referee | | M Atkinson, W Yorkshire | | Attendance | | 18853 |
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| Burnley Cards | | (none) | | Reading Cards | | Matejovsky | 37 | unsporting behaviour | | Bikey | 83 | unsporting behaviour | | Bikey | 90 | violent conduct |
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