Source: Daily_Mail
Burnley 1 Sheffield United 0: Clarets hit the Premier League with £60m Wembley win
Burnley can look forward to facing the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool after winning their £60million play-off triumph over Sheffield United.
Owen Coyle's men hit the jackpot as Wade Elliott's goal sent them into the Barclays Premier League.
The Clarets, among the founder members of the Football League, areback in the top flight for the first time since 1976 courtesy of Elliott's 13th-minute strike.
Coyle said: 'We've got a great adventure to look forward to. I think you've seen the effort the players gave today, it wasgreat game, end-to-end - and we had chances to put the game to bed.
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'We don't have quantity but I believe we have quality - I'm obviously delighted with what we've achieved today.
'I'm immensely proud and delighted for everyone in the town - but my heart goes out to Sheffield United.'
Burnley, who were so close to reaching Wembley in both cup competitions this season, stepped up when it counted most.
For United, another season in the Championship beckons, two years after they were relegated amid the controversy of the Carlos Tevez affair. The Blades maintain they, and not a Tevez-inspired West Ham, should have stayed up in 2007.
No little irony, then, in another claret and blue-clad goalscorer condemning them to a third term outside the top flight.
But there could be no argument about Elliott's goal, the30-year-old midfielder, formerly of Bashley and Bournemouth, conjuringup a strike which would have graced any Premier League ground - andcertainly lit up a packed Wembley.
The Blades will point to two penalty shouts turned down by referee Mike Dean, whose appointment was criticised by manager Kevin Blackwell in the build-up to the game.
And they finished with 10 men when Dean sent off young striker Jamie Ward for handball, his second bookable offence.
Victory sees Burnley become the smallest town to boast a Premier League team - and almost half of their 73,000 inhabitants had travelled down to the capital to watch them triumph.
The Clarets were deserved winners in their 61st game of an arduous season, having knocked out top-flight opposition including Chelsea,Arsenal and Fulham during their two epic cup runs.
But they were on the back foot in the opening stages with United,who held hopes of automatic promotion until the final day of theseason, testing Brian Jensen with awkward shots from Kyle Naughton and Brian Howard.
But against the run of play, Burnley took the lead thanks to a superb piece of play from Elliott. The midfielder burst forward,skipping past a couple of Blades tackles before playing in Chris McCann. Matt Kilgallon got a challenge in but the ball fell perfectly for Elliott to curl a stunning first-time effort past Paddy Kenny from 20yards.
Asked whether his goal was the best of his career, Elliott told SkySports: 'In terms of importance - no contest. It's far and away thebest goal I'll ever score, probably.
'It fell nicely, I couldn't really strike it because it was turning a bit and it seemed to take a long time to go in.
'When it did I thought about running up to my mum and dad but they were in the opposite corner and it was so hot!
'I think it will take a little while for it to sink in - but I'm delighted for all the lads.'
United were claiming a penalty two minutes later when Howard tumbled in the area under a clumsy challenge from Graham Alexander, butreferee Dean was not interested.
McCann's afternoon ended prematurely when he limped off to bereplaced by Joey Gudjonsson, but the swap did not knock the Clarets outof their stride. In the 55th minute they were denied a second by a dramatic goal-line clearance from Nick Montgomery.
Thompson's header back across the six-yard box was turned goalwardsby Gudjonsson, and Montgomery knew little about it as the ball hit theheel of his standing foot, a yard from the line, and bounced wide.
Burnley's missed chances could have come back to haunt them in the 68th minute when Christian Kalvenes knocked Naughton off the ball inthe box but Dean again waved away the appeals.
And the Blades' task became tougher still in the 78th minute whenstriker Jamie Ward, who had been booked four minutes earlier, was showna second yellow card by Dean for handball.
Afterwards, man of the match Clarke Carlisle said: 'I'm privileged to bea member of this magnificent team.
'What a season, words can't describe how brilliant and awesome anachievement this is. I thank God so much, I'm blessed to be a part ofthis team. It's just unbelievable, what an awesome day.'
