Reading will be looking to turn around first leg deficit

Reading will be looking to over turn the 1-0 score line they conceded in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final, when Burnley travel to the Madejski stadium tonight. Reading played well and built up good spells of pressure in the first leg but fell behind to a penalty, which saw Andre Bikey sent off.

The added incentive is there for the Royals who will want to bounce back into the Premier League at the first attempt. However, Burnley must not be over looked as the prospect of unknown water can often inspire a team and make them play above their normal levels of performance.

Whoever wins the match will set up a mouth watering final clash with Sheffield United and the prospect of playing for a place in the Premier League and a club pay day of £30 million.

Bikey is obviously suspended for four games so will play no part in the match, Kalifa Cisse is likely to take his place. Kevin Doyle is struggling to shake off an injury and winger Glen Little is available for selection. Steve Coppell will have to get his side right if they are to have any chance of progression as Burnley will no doubt adopt a defensive element in the game.

Chris Eagles faces a late fitness test for the travelling side and it is unknown whether he will start. Wade Elliot and Joey Gudjonsson also face fitness tests but otherwise Burnley will travel at full strength.

The match is likely to be a lot more open than the first leg and Reading will be hoping that the home fans can get right behind the team and ensure that the recent home form they have shown is corrected. Reading have all of the tools necessary to progress and watching their last few performances there is a big display about to explode from this side.

However, Burnley are not naïve. They will travel with one goal already in the back and will adopt an efficient system. They may choose to string five men across the midfield if Reading go with three strikers up top again. The only problem is that this sort of system invites pressure and could well be their undoing if Reading hit their straps.

Although Sheffield United at the moment won’t care who they play in the final they would probably prefer it to be Burnley as Reading will want revenge over United for a recent league defeat.

Burnley can win this match but they need Reading to have an off day. Reading’s failure to make the pressure tell the other night was reflected through an angry and animated Coppell, who as we all know is otherwise calm and collected. Therefore it is likely he has been banging on at his side over the last couple of days that they cannot keep failing to convert their chances.

At this moment in time the match is hard to call. For all of the football perfectionists they would probably prefer a Sheffield United v Reading final but this is unknown territory for Burnley, which is something that could fuel the performance of the side.