Reading 0 - 2 Burnley

Stunning double strikes sink Royals

Updated: May 12, 2009, 9:50 PM UK

Burnley hit two sensational second-half strikes to book a place in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final as Reading's dismal home form again cost them a crack at promotion following a 2-0 loss.

• Coyle wary of premature celebration

Steve Coppell's side looked certain to return to the Barclays Premier League for the majority of the season but capitulated in the final three months to fall off the pace.

The Royals' final home win of the season came way back in January and despite dominating the first 45 minutes they were again undone thanks to wonder goals from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson.

Owen Coyle's side kicked off a goal up after Graham Alexander's penalty at Turf Moor on Saturday and ended their 60th game of a marathon season with a win which earned them the right to face Sheffield United at Wembley later this month.

The Clarets are now 90 minutes away from a first season in the top flight for 34 years but Coppell's future is less clear as the end of his current contract approaches.

Coppell - who celebrated his 1,000th game as a manager earlier this season - sprung a major surprise by handing Wales Under-21 international Simon Church his full debut for the club in attack, leaving £5million Dave Kitson on the bench.

It was a gamble, with Church's only previous appearance for the club coming as a substitute in an FA Cup defeat at Cardiff earlier this season.

The 20-year-old had spent most of the season on loan at Wycombe and Leyton Orient but started on the right of a front three as the home side chased an early goal.

Shane Long had the first effort on target when Jay Tabb's free-kick was flicked on at the near post and Long lashed in a low drive which Brian Jensen palmed away.

Reading were not playing like a team devoid of confidence at home and carved out a great chance when Marek Matejovsky played in Brynjar Gunnarsson but his cutback narrowly failed to reach Church.

Whether nerves or understandable fatigue were to blame, Burnley had been a shadow of their normally fluent selves in the first half but they went ahead in spectacular fashion in the 51st minute.

Paterson received the ball on the halfway line and set off toward goal as Burnley broke.

The Reading defence showed him inside on to his weaker left foot but could only watch on in disbelief as the Northern Ireland international cracked a 25-yard shot which swerved past Marcus Hahnemann and found the top corner.

It was a special strike from the former Scunthorpe forward and his 19th of the season.

Coppell made a triple change with Kitson, Stephen Hunt and Glen Little all coming on but Thompson made the tie safe with another fine goal in the 58th minute.

Jensen launched a goal-kick up the field and after winning an aerial challenge Thompson turned and hit a looping strike with the outside of his left-foot which flew over Hahnemann and bounced in off the underside of the crossbar.

The goal deflated the entire Madejski Stadium and Alexander began to dictate play as the Clarets kept the ball for long periods.

Long blasted over in a rare sight of goal for the disillusioned hosts but the Clarets never looked like letting go of the lead and will prove tough opposition for Sheffield United in their showdown on May 25.

Coyle wary of premature celebration

Burnley manager Owen Coyle warned his side had not achieved anything yet after they saw off Reading to reach the Championship play-off final.

Spectacular second-half strikes from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson gave the Royals a 2-0 win at the Madejski Stadium to triumph 3-0 on aggregate and set up a clash with Sheffield United at Wembley on May 25.

Coyle has enjoyed a marathon season in which his side also reached the Carling Cup semi-finals but he was in no mood for celebration at the final whistle.

''The prize is a place in the Premier League and that is what everyone wants but there is no place for celebration yet,'' he said.

''We recognise we have not achieved our goal yet. We have earned ourselves a chance against Sheffield United which will be a formidable hurdle.

''But we have now played 60 games, used the least amount of players in the Championship, our average attendance is in the bottom three, our turnover is in the bottom four but we put ourselves on the line for each other and that is what this team is all about.

''We have gifted individuals but we achieve nothing without our work ethic.''

Coyle scored in a play-off final win against Reading for Bolton in 1995 and admitted he had not been back to Wembley since.

''I haven't seen the new one, I've not had time,'' he said. ''We have only played 60 times since August you know.

''But there is no doubt about it that this is well up there in my achievements.

''I played and scored in a play-off final as a player but as manager I am responsible for a team and a whole town.

''It is something we are all looking forward to but I thought Sheffield United were outstanding against Preston.''

Reading boss Steve Coppell refused to comment on his immediate future after his side's wretched home record again derailed their promotion hopes.

The Royals looked certain to return to the Barclays Premier League for the majority of the season but capitulated in the final three months to fall off the pace.

Their last home win of the season came way back in January and despite dominating the first 45 minutes they were again undone.

''I don't think any team has had more chances than us to get promoted,'' said Coppell, whose contract expires in the summer.

''We've gone nine games without a win at home and if we'd won three of them we might be contemplating the Premier League.

''I can't understand our home form and it was something I couldn't solve which is what has cost us promotion.

''I apologise to the fans. A manager is judged on results and if I feel we have had the opportunities to go up and we haven't done then it's my fault.''

The likes of Kevin Doyle, Leroy Lita, Andre Bikey, Liam Rosenior and Stephen Hunt could all leave this summer but Coppell believes Kevin Blackwell's Sheffield United show that a side can return to the top flight at the second time of asking.

He said: ''We've got another year of parachute payments and Sheffield United have proven this year that you can get back in your second year.

''I won't be watching the final. I have no plan for the summer, I didn't expect this to be on the agenda.

''But we've made money this year. We might have gambled more but this club works within its budget. There is no credit crunch here.''