Burnley win Dh350m jackpot

Burnley secure promotion to the Premier League following victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.

Burnley players celebrate after winning the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United at Wembley.
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Owen Coyle's Burnley secured promotion to the Premier League following victory over Sheffield United in today's Championship play-off final. The Clarets, among the founder members of the Football League, are back in the top flight for the first time since 1976 courtesy of Wade Elliott's 13th minute strike. Burnley, who were so close to reaching Wembley in both cup competitions this season, stepped up when it counted most to land the estimated £60 million (Dh350m) lottery for reaching the promised land. For United, another season in the Championship beckons, two years after they were relegated amid the controversy of the Carlos Tevez affair. The Blades maintain they, and not a Tevez-inspired West Ham, should have stayed up in 2007. No little irony, then, in another claret and blue-clad goalscorer condemning them to a third term outside the top flight. But there could be no argument about Elliott's goal, the 30-year-old midfielder, formerly of Bashley and Bournemouth, conjuring up a strike which would have graced any Premier League ground ? and certainly lit up a packed Wembley. The Blades will point to two penalty shouts turned down by referee Mike Dean, whose appointment was criticised by manager Kevin Blackwell in the build-up to the game. And they finished with 10 men when Dean sent off young striker Jamie Ward for handball, his second bookable offence. Victory sees Burnley become the smallest town to boast a Premier League team ? and almost half of their 73,000 inhabitants had travelled down to the capital to watch them triumph.

*PA Sport