It's time to live the daring dream

It’s hard to judge whether Burnley are halfway to Wembley or not.

After ninety minutes at the Turf we take our one nil first leg win down to the Madejski Stadium today, but as we’ve already seen this season being seconds away from a trip to the arches doesn’t mean you’ll get there.

The minibus of dreams will head to Berkshire this lunchtime determined to return north having confirmed a weekend in London come the second bank holiday of the month.

Saturday’s game at the Turf was a nerve jangling affair, similar to the tension experienced by an MP who’s just realised they’ve accidentally submitted their rent boy receipts as expenses.

While it wasn’t a vintage Clarets performance we did enough and once again, despite pressure, kept a clean sheet and stole an unlikely victory.

Brian Jensen may have produced a wonder save and Martin Paterson may have cleared one off the line but we fought and battled for our win.

Particularly impressive was Clark Carlisle and Steven Caldwell’s central defensive partnership which has proved stronger than Californian wildfires in recent weeks.

A loss of form saw Carlisle looking shakier than Katie and Peter’s marriage earlier in the campaign but Britain’s brainiest footballer has shown great mental strength and turned his season back around.

He’s once again become a linchpin along the back line, regularly putting his body on the line for the Claret and Blue cause.

Another all action defensive performance will be needed at the Madejski tonight to ensure a showdown with Sheffield United in the final.

In fact, cool heads will be needed all round.

Graham Alexander is one who encompasses all that’s needed at this stage of the season with his clinical finishing from the penalty spot and masterful performances in front of the back four.

There’s no doubt we missed Wade Elliot in the first leg, the game was crying out for his jinking runs from the middle of the park and ability to get people like Chris Eagles in the game by linking up wide.

We can only hope we have both “Billy” and Eagles fit for this evenings encounter to cause havoc on the counter attack.

Reading will also be missing players, Kevin Doyle limped off during the first leg while poor mans Drogba Andre Bikey is still thought to be throwing his shirt around. Apparently he hasn’t even had time to remove the bits of Robbie Blake’s leg from his boots.

As ever Owen Coyle says he will go out to win the game on the night and as it opens up with Reading needing to score we will hopefully be able to capitalise on the gaps left in the Royal's defence.

We must also look to exploit their poor home form and what could be a tetchy crowd if things aren’t going they’re way.

But whatever might happen, everyone involved with the club knows that it all comes down to this.

We must hold our nerve and keep the faith.

We’ve been told to dare to dream all season.

Now it’s time to live that dream.