Play-off final confirmed - Sheffield United vs Burnley

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Sheffield United will encounter Burnley on Monday 25th May 2009 in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium as Owen Coyle's men cruised to a 0:3 aggregate victory over helpless Reading in their play-off semi-final. Martin Paterson's and Steven Thompson's delicious second half goals earned the Clarets the right to be one game away from the top flight.

Burnley went into the game with a one goal advantage, when last Saturday Graham Alexander dispatched a penalty. A mere 19,000 fans were in the Madejski Stadium on a chilly Tuesday night.

Reading began the brightest when Long's shot was parried by Jensen, and then goalkeeper was penalised for handball outside the area, but the referee deemed the incident accidental and no further action was taken.

Wade Elliott's drill at goal was deflected inches wide but Burnley were on the back-foot again when the goalkeeper had to be called upon in a goalmouth scramble.

The Clarets started to get a foothold back in the battle - Martin Paterson who scored the only goal of the game against the Blades last month, smashed in an unbelievable cracker into the top corner, with no keeper in the world having a chance in saving the powerful ball.

Steve Coppell immediately made a triple substitution, but several minutes later, Burnley put the tie to bed and said thank you very much for a place at Wembley. Steven Thompson's intelligent chip beat Hahnemann, took a clip off the crossbar and bounced over the line, which led to barmy Burnley celebrations.

Long and Kitson wasted good chances to net a consolation, but neither could find the onion bag. Burnley will now face Sheffield United in the Coca Cola-Championship play-off final later this month. The Clarets are searching for promotion back to the top flight after a 33 absence. Meanwhile the Blades are looking for Premier League football after a two year gap.

Coca-Cola Football League Play-Offs (Lvl 2), Tuesday, 12th May 2009 @ 19:45; Madejski Stadium
Paterson 51 Thompson 58  First Leg: 0-1 Aggregate: 0-3
Starting Line-ups 1  Hahnemann 6 31  Harding 6 22  Rosenior 6 29  Duberry 6 26  Pearce 6 37  Tabb 7 6  Gunnarsson 6 14  Kebe (Kitson 53) 5 7  Matejovsky (Hunt, S 52) 7 24  Long 7 35  Church (Little 53) 6  Substitutes 32  Federici   10  Hunt, S (Matejovsky 52) 5 4  Cisse   52  Little (Church 53) 6 17  Kitson (Kebe 53) 5	6 Goal Attempts 9 3 On Target 6 3 Off Target 3 0 Hit Woodwork 0 1 Offsides 0 5 Corners 5 17 Fouls 18	Starting Line-ups 12  Jensen 7 4  Duff 6 3  Kalvenes 6 5  Carlisle 7 2  Alexander 6 6  Caldwell 7 16  McCann 6 11  Elliott (Eagles 84) 6 20  Blake 6 30  Thompson (Rodriguez 79) 6 10  Paterson (Gudjonsson 71) 7  Substitutes 1  Penny   7  McDonald   8  Gudjonsson (Paterson 71)   33  Eagles (Elliott 84)   19  Rodriguez (Thompson 79)
	Referee M Riley, Yorkshire Attendance 19909 Additional information Burnley win 3-0 on aggregate
	Reading Cards Duberry 35 unsporting behaviour Kitson 56 dissent Long 58 unsporting behaviour Burnley Cards Kalvenes 15 unsporting behaviour Elliott 56 unsporting behaviour