With a place in the English Premier League at stake this game was no classic, but Burnley won it as Wade Elliott scored the only goal of the game on 13 minutes to condemn Sheffield United to their third ever Football League play off final defeat.
There was more misfortune for Sheffield United as Jamie Ward was dismissed in the dying minutes of the game after receiving his second yellow card.
Burnley No EPL Stereotypes
Burnley find themselves promoted into an English Premier League dominated by big city clubs from the likes of Manchester. Liverpool and London. With a population of less than 90,000 Burnley will be the smallest town ever to boast a club in the EPL.
Burnley had won the Football League championship when it was English football's top prize back in 1960. But following the abolition of the maximum wage for players, the Clarets no longer had the resources to compete with the country's top clubs.
Following their last relegation from the English game's top flight in 1976, Burnley's fall from grace was swift as they tumbled into the bottom division of the Football League. In 1987, they escaped relegation from the Football League into non league only on the last day of the season.
Sheffield United Await Another Year
When Sheffield United were relegated on the final day of the 2006-7 season, their lawyers were called into action as it emerged that fellow relegation contenders West Ham United had “illegally” fielded Carlos Tevez in their final game and avoided the drop. That bid to avoid relegation failed, and they will certainly have no cause to resort to law following their 1-0 Championship play off defeat to Burnley.
But Sheffield United have all the hallmarks of an English Premier League club. Unlike cross city rivals Sheffield Wednesday they have no serious financial problems. Though being nothing like the global brand of the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool, United do have links abroad, including a feeder side in China.
The big question for Sheffield United fans now is whether the Blades will be able to put their play off final defeat behind them and make a push for place in the English Premier League next season.
The Lower Division Finals
As well as the Championship show piece encounter, the bank holiday weekend also saw the Football League also stage the play off finals for the two lower divisions.
S****horpe United returned to the Championship at the first time of asking with a 3-2 victory over Millwall in the League One play off final.
Gillingham will be playing League one football next term after an injury time winner saw them beat Shrewsbury 1-0 in the League Two final.
