The £60 million Game

So it comes to this, a one off £60 million pound decider. Sheffield United and
Burnley go head to head for a place in the Premier League.

There is no separating the two, both have done so well and both fully deserve their place in the Final.

Sheffield United has had a remarkable season, especially with losing their star striker James Beattie in January; they finished third, ending the season on a
formidable form.

Many players have contributed to their season but under the guidance of Kevin Blackwell, they haven’t done too much wrong. He has built and assembled a very good bunch of players that all are eager to play top-flight football. Many see it as justice is being done after harshly being relegated despite West Ham fielding illegal players.

They may be without Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward and John-Joe O’Toole as they are all out injured but Blackwell with give them until the last possible minute to recover just in case they can have any influence.

Despite having lost only once in the last 14 league games, goals have been coming all over the park as no one apart from Beattie has scored more than 7 goals in the league and they may need to rely on strikers if they are going to score at Wembley.

Burnley, on the other hand, are completely taking the Championship by storm. They have had a long long season with so many games being played but they look like the team with momentum. Captain Graham Alexander has been vital to his team success; he has been the influence and rock in the team, playing every game, he must be relishing a summer’s break knowing that top-flight football awaits him.

Owen Coyle must take his fair share of credit, on a small budget he has taken Burnley to the six round of the FA Cup, Semi Finals in the Carling Cup and guided them to fifth place in the Championship there is not a lot he has done wrong.

Burnley have played 60 games this term, second only to Manchester United in the league and they have used only 23 players during the whole campaign suggesting that a small knitted squad can do wonders. Coyle has managed them well.

Martin Paterson has been in great form for the Clarets and his stunner against Reading just shows how good he actually is, his 13 league goals show that as well.

Robbie Blake has been in the form of his life, Coyle’s given time and movement to express himself and it’s worked. The players play in harmony with their manager and there style reflects Coyle’s attitude.

It is so difficult in deciding what team will win, but I think Burnley will scrape it, as they know how to win these big games and momentum is possibly with them after crushing Reading’s dreams.

(Champ Corner, Football Fancast, 2009)