Reading's promotion hopes crumble as Burnley march on

Reading 0 Burnley 2 (0-3 on aggregate)

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.

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 signing 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.