Burnley defeated Reading 2-0 in their play-off semi-final thanks to wonder goals from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson.
Wonder goals from Paterson and Thompson set up Blades meeting
Burnley booked a place in the Championship play-off final as stunning strikes from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson secured a 2-0 semi-final second-leg victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Owen Coyle's Clarets already led their opponents 1-0 following Saturday's first leg, and Paterson and Thompson delivered in sensational, second-half style in the return meeting to earn a comfortable aggregate win and set up a clash with Sheffield United.
Burnley succeeded in defending their narrow first-leg advantage, which came courtesy of Graham Alexander's late penalty at Turf Moor at the weekend, in the opening half.
Reading - so poor at home in 2009 - dominated but Steve Coppell's side were unable to find a way past visiting goalkeeper Brian Jensen, who saved especially well from a Shane Long effort.
And six minutes after the interval the Royals were hit with a ruthless sucker-punch as Paterson scored arguably the best goal of the 19 he has netted this season when carrying the ball from his own territory to unleash an unstoppable, curling 35-yard effort.
Coppell responded with the introduction of Dave Kitson, Stephen Hunt and former Clarets star Glen Little but the triple substitution made no impact as Burnley doubled their lead on the night in the 58th minute.
After challenging for a long ball, Thompson took full advantage of a fortunate bounce to release a dipping volley over the head of Marcus Hahnemann and guarantee the chance to earn promotion to the Premier League at Wembley on 25th May.
Surprise
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.
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 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.
Disbelief
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 Hahnemann and found the top corner.
Coppell made his triple change with Kitson, Hunt and 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.
