Coyle's graduation enough to make Coppell weep

“It best bloody be worth it” my Dad said to me after finally getting hold of our tickets for the game against Reading following a mammoth eight hour queue outside the Turf on Monday.

“Don’t worry, I’ll queue for Wembley” I replied apologetically after work commitments meant I couldn’t take my place in the line.

The playoff double header against Reading is undoubtedly the biggest game in our recent history, something that has been muttered a few times this season.

As the games continue to get bigger and more important for Owen Coyle’s troops I can’t fail to be even more convinced by him.

Maybe he missed a trick being a football manager.

I’m sure Owen Coyle the salesman could convince me a stair lift would be a perfectly necessary feature to add to my dwelling or that a timeshare in the up and coming resort of Kabul would really make a fabulous investment.

Or think of Owen Coyle the Jehovah’s Witness, if he was knocking on my door I’d be straight down the Kingdom Halls with my Watchtower ready to empty my pockets.

Let’s just thank our lucky stars he didn’t end up working in recruitment for Al-Qaeda.

Eighteen thousand and five Burnley and Bristol fans united in appreciation to stand and applaud the Master of the Universe after we made the playoffs on Sunday and there is no doubt the Coyle deserves every credit for what has happened thus far.

If we don’t make Wembley and don’t make the Premier League we will all say what a marvellous achievement this season has been and how we’ve made great strides forward.

I’m sure Coyle would too, but a man obviously so fiercely ambitious wouldn’t want to settle for a token run out in the playoffs.

Standing in our way is Reading, an outstanding candidate for Promotion at the beginning of the season who started strongly but have wained in the final half.

The Royals are without a home win in eight games which can only boost our confidence for the second leg at the Madjeski.

Before then they must come to the Turf where we’ve won our last five scoring four or more on three of those occasions. In the other two one nil victories were secured, which shows we are just as capable of closing out a tight victory as we are free scoring, although lets hope for the latter come Saturday tea time.

The fixture has caused major excitement. The pubs after Sunday’s victory were brimming with Claret and Blue hysteria while the ticket office has struggled to cope with demand since opening Monday morning.

The Clarets will play their 59th games of the season on Saturday with only Manchester United crossing the white line on more occasions.

A 61st could see us reach the Premier League.

Through Owen Coyle and his team I believe and I think you should too.

Reading manager Steve Coppell this week inadvertently described reaching the playoffs as a “blow” as he got "a bit weepy" about missing his son’s graduation in America.

Coppell has been a great boss and his accolade of knocking up over a thousand matches as a league manager is a remarkable achievement. But you can’t help wonder if unrelenting rumours of his retirement in the next two weeks has contributed to his sides perceived apathy towards the back of the campaign.

I’m not trying to underestimate Reading, on their day they are undoubtedly the best side in the division but I think this is not only our day but our time.

Coppell needn’t worry about missing out. Come Tuesday he could be the teary eyed guest of honour at Owen Coyle’s graduation.