Pato's Clarets join the Premier League

Burnley have beaten Sheffield United 1-0 in the Championship Play-off final.

Former Stoke player and dyed-in-the-wool Stokie, Martin Paterson capped off a great first season for the Lancashire club with a good performance at Wembley. It was his goal in the semi-finals against Reading that helped to ensure that the Clarets will take their place alongside the Potters in the top flight of England football next season for the first time since 1975.

The two sides were separated by a 13th minute strike from Wade Elliott and despite the Blades believing that it was their destiny to recover their Premier League position and even being forced to throw on one-time Stoke loanee, Lee Hendry towards the end they failed to overcome a Burnley side that always looked like they could get a second goal if required.

There's no doubt that they'll soon become fodder for the ever-hungry national media and will be widely written off before the season even gets under way. But, as Hull City and ourselves have proved, if only life was that easy for your average London hack or TV pundit forced to head north every Saturday.

But for now, savour the excitement and adulation of reaching the promised land.

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