Championship Play-Off Final
Burnley V Sheffield United - Monday 15:00 LIVE on SkySports
Manchester United maybe heading to Rome on Wednesday to contest the greatest club competition on the planet but it's Burnley and Sheffield United who will do battle in what is now the most expensive game to be settled on a football pitch. Yep, you've guessed it - It's the Championship final and a year of hard work and countless hours on the training ground comes down to just 90 minutes on that green field. This is the type of game where even hardened professionals can crumble under the pressure and some will bottle it but one thing is for sure, this is a game where heroes are made but who will step up to the mark on Monday and send their team into arguably the greatest league in Europe.
Burnley are undoubtedly the surprise finalist this time around but they fully deserve their place in Monday's showdown. They've had their finest season for some time, which was so nearly capped off with a domestic cup final. They showed great courage and determination to get into the Semi-Final's of the Carling Cup where they eventually succumbed to a 119th minute Jermaine Defoe strike before they finally waved goodbye to that competition. Many did assume that Burnley might fall flat after that bitter defeat but that was far from the case. They went through a miserably patch over Christmas but did finish the season is decent form, winning seven of their last eleven league fixtures.
Manager Owen Coyle has based his teams phenomenal season down to the hunger of the players. They have consistently put in some valiantly display and none more so then their run in the Carling Cup. However, the fact that Burnley have played more than 50 games this season will put a few potential Burnley backers off. Their fine run in the cups could have a long term affect on their fitness but we don't think that will be an issue. It won't take much effort from Owen Coyle to get his players fit and raring to go as the chance of playing in the Premiership should be a big enough incentive.
Unlike Burnley, Sheffield United have past experience at Premiership level and they know full well what is required to compete in one of the toughest leagues on the continent. They were relegated from the Premiership two season ago, some still feel very hard done by, after a Carlos Tevez goal at Old Trafford sealed their fate. Many of the Sheffield United fans are still very bitter after all the controversy surrounding the Tevez affair and they will be desperate to put all that nonsense to bed and finally regain their place in the league the fans feel they belong.
Sheffield United did end the season as the best of the rest, finishing in third. That means very little to manager Kevin Blackwell though as a third place finish doesn't come with automatic promotion and he will be eager to seize on their final opportunity and send the club back into the top flight. Their form before the close of the season was formidable. They've lost just two games since the start of February and were on a run of eleven games without defeat. However, we'll give you one guess who ended that fine unbeaten run. Yep, you guessed it - Burnley. United lost 1-0 at Plainmoor at the end of last month and that narrow defeat will still be fresh in the memory of the United players and they will be craving revenge on Monday.
For a match with so much at stake, form does become irrelevant. It all boils down to 90 minutes on the pitch and possibly whichever side can hold their nerve at crucial times. This is probably one of the hardest play-off finals to call for some time and we can't separate the pair. Burnley did complete a league double over United this year with wins home and away over the Hillsborough side. Those victory's could play a part mentally and a tentative vote will go the way of the Claret and Blues but in all honesty, the prize is their for both sides. Should be a very entertaining game at Wembley and you'd be a fool to miss this spectacle.
Previous Play-Off Results:
Burnley BEAT Reading 3-0 (Aggregate) H: 1-0 A: 0-2
Sheffield United BEAT Preston North End H: 1-0 A: 1-1
Match Odds:
Burnley - 15/8 BetFred
Draw - 9/4 Boylesports
Sheffield United - 13/8 Bet365
Soccerbetting Tip - Burnley to WIN FINAL (Includes Extra-Time and Penalties) at 11/10 @ SportingBetLabels: Burnley V Sheffield United betting preview, Championship Play-Off Final betting preview
Posted by soccerbetting.info @ 7:04 PM
 
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