Burnley have sized the upper hand against Reading thanks to a late 1-0 first leg success at Turf Moor.
Alexander penalty puts Burnley in control
Burnley have sized the upper hand in their Championship play-off semi-final against Reading thanks to a late 1-0 first leg success at Turf Moor.
The game looked certain to end goalless before Andre Bikey needlessly hauled down Steven Thompson with 84 minutes played with Graham Alexander successfully converting from the penalty spot.
Burnley made the brighter start although the visitors carved out the better chances with Brian Jensen making a fine double save from Jay Tabb and Marek Matejovsky to keep Steve Coppell's side at bay.
The Royals should have taken a lead into the half-time break, but Jensen kept out Bikey's point-blank header with Martin Paterson blocking Kevin Doyle's rebound from underneath his own crossbar.
The second half proved a somewhat disappointing affair until late on when Alexander's penalty settled the contest, although things went from bad to worse for Bikey who was dismissed in injury time for a ridiculous stamp on Robbie Blake.
Fortunate
Royals defender Michael Duberry was fortunate to escape a booking after clattering Joey Gudjonsson in the eighth minute in a challenge which saw the Burnley midfielder eventually depart the action in the 21st minute.
He was replaced by Kevin McDonald and Blake found the space to rifle a low shot wide from 20 yards moments later.
McDonald then had a shot deflected wide but Reading's goal threat was increasingly evident and in the 24th minute a deep cross from Leroy Rosenior found Doyle at the far post.
His lay-off found Tabb who struck a fierce shot which Jensen repelled before doing likewise to Matejovsky's follow-up effort.
Ten minutes before the break Bikey powered a header goalwards from a corner but Jensen's excellent reflex denied him and Doyle's follow-up header was hacked off the line by Paterson.
Jimmy Kebe then fired over from 20 yards in the 38th minute before Reading lost Doyle to injury to be replaced by Dave Kitson.
Lone furrow
Paterson was left to plough a lone furrow up front but he collected possession in the 52nd minute and drove a shot goalwards from 20 yards.
Hahnemann made a relatively comfortable save but sadly it was not a sign of things to come as Burnley's frustrations begin to mount.
The ineffective Chris Eagles was replaced by Thompson in the 58th minute but he made little impact, and after Chris McCann went close from close range, Reading almost snatched a goal when Carlisle slipped and Kebe raced clear before Caldwell made a crucial block.
The pendulum swing in Burnley's favour with six minutes remaining when Bikey pulled back Thompson inside the penalty box and Alexander rifled home emphatically from 12 yards.
Bikey was booked for the foul and then given his marching orders for his dreadful challenge on Blake in the closing minutes.
