Like most Semi Finals, Reading faced Burnley at the Madejski Stadium with the nerves jangling. But a state of nervous energy was also buzzing around the stadium and the squad. Reading may have been disappointed to return from Lancashire with a 1-0 deficit having dominated the First Leg at Turf Moor, but as the game was only half finished and there was still 90 minutes to put things right, Reading had no time to give up just yet. Andre Bikey's last ten minutes at Turf Moor may well have been highly forgettable, but Reading fans were hoping that the penalty and sending off from the first leg would simply be footnotes on a night when history was beckoning with a Wembley appearance in the offing. Sadly that situation was not forth coming at all.

Reading crafted few opportunities in the first half as the stadium got to grips with the semi final. In fact the pre match atmosphere of nervous energy continued and became slightly muted as Reading probed and quietly made advances towards the Reading goal. The best chance to score came in the 42nd minute when Marek Matejovsky delivered a free kick from the edge of the area that was low and fast but was held, at the second attempt by Brian Jensen in the Burnley goal. Shane Long also looked lively and troubled Jensen with a dangerous break which caused the Burnley goalkeeper to dash out and dive at the feet of Reading's striker. Not too enough clear-cut opportunities were forthcoming though. Indeed Burnley's chances on the Reading goal were limited, with the away side playing a more defensive game, as they attempted to protect their first leg lead. At the half time break with the second leg score at 0-0 Burnley would certainly have been the happier side.

The second half was just six minutes old when Burnley struck. A marauding run from Martin Paterson saw the Burnley midfielder then produce a shot from fully 32 yards. It was low, strong and swerving and gave Marcus Hahnemann no chance as it winged its way into the bottom left hand corner. The goal shocked Reading, but within eight minutes that shock turned to bitter disappointment. Steven Thompson volleyed a shot from the edge of the penalty box that dipped over Marcus Hahnemann and under the cross bar and into the net. The silence from the home crowd was shrouded in despair as it seemed that for Reading the gap had become too vast to be closed.

Shane Long tried a shot in the 71st minute after a Dave Kitson effort had been charged down. Kitson too could have scored minutes later with a neat turn and shot that cleared the cross bar, however the chances like the time were running out. Jay Tabb shot over from long range five minutes from the end, but sadly there was to be no incredible turnaround to Reading's fortunes. All that is left now is a period of reflection to banish the thoughts of defeat, but rest assured this team, the one that plays in blue and white will be back in August, better, stronger and ready again for another crack at promotion.