GRAHAM Alexander's fourth penalty in three games and 10th of the season hands Burnley the advantage as they head to Reading for the second leg of their Coca-Cola Champion ship play-off semi-final.
Reading had two excellent chances, but found Bian Jensen in top form.
>>Click here to view our photo gallery from the game>>Click here to view our fans picsReading's job was made even harder as they face the second leg without Andre Bikey following his stoppage time dismissal for stamping on Robbie Blake.
1 - Burnley win a free kick on the left, Robbie Blake floats it in and Marcus Hahnemann flaps at it but the resulting corner comes to nothing.
3 - Jimmy Kebe breaks but Clarke Carlisle stops him in his tracks with a thundering challenge.
7 - Jimmy Kebe threatens again but his speculative cross-shot lands on the roof of the net.
9 - Michael Duberry flattens Joey Gudjonsson with a reckless challenge but escpaes with a stern ticking off from referee Martin Atkinson.
10 - Steven Caldwell and Clarke Carlisle combine well to snuff out the threat of another Reading break.
19 - Burnley win their second corner, but the Reading defence deal with it.
21 - Burnley are forced into their first change as Kevin McDonald comes on as Joey Gudjonsson limps out of the action.
23 - Chris Eagles carves out the first real chance with a cut-back to Martin Paterson who sets up Robbie Blake. Blake makes room for the shot, but then drags the ball wide of the near post.
24 - Brian Jensen makes a remarkable double save to shut out Jay Tabb and then Shane Long.
26 - Another corner for Burnley finds Michael Duff but his header lacks power.
28 - Michael Duberry tries his luck with a looping shot from the edge of the area, but it flies over the top.
31 - Burnley's best attack so far sees Chris Eagles and Martin Paterson set up Kevin McDonald but his shot is blocked and goes out for another corner that is dealt with by the Reading defence.
34 - Jimmy Kebe gets in a great cross which Clarke Carlisle cuts out for a corner. From the corner, Brian Jensen makes a great save from Andre Bikey and then Martin Paterson clears off the line from Michael Duberry's follow-up shot.
37 - Marek Matejovsky harshly booked for a foul on Chris McCann.
39 - Jimmy Kebe breaks again but his long-range shot flies over the crossbar as Brian Jensen has it covered.
40 - Burnley make their first substitution as Dave Kitson replaces Kevin Doyle.
Half-time
Burnley 0, Reading 0
49 - Reading have a free kick in a dangereous position, 28-yards out in the right. Burnley defend in numbers and the dangeer is cleared.
52 - Martin Paterson gets his first clear sight of goal with a drive towards the top corner but Marcus Hahnemann has it covered.
58 - Steven Thompson comes on for Chris Eagles.
64 - Burnley win their first corner of the second half but the Reading defence deal with it comfortably.
73 - Dan Harding hasa the chance to get in a telling cross but fares it high and wide across the face of goal.
76 - Mounting pressure in the Burnley penalty area is brought to an end as the referee blows for a foul on Brian Jensen.
78 - Robbie Blake's cross is cleared to Chris McCann and his thundering drive is deflected over the top for a corner.
81 - Jimmy Kebe broke into the area and was about to aim a pass at the unmarked Dave Kitson but was stopped in his tracks by a great challenge from Burnley skipper Steven Caldwell.
83 - GOAL!! MArtin Paterson chests the ball through and as Steven Thompson goes for it, Michael Duberry pulls him back. Referee Martin Atkinson ppoints to the spot and Graham Alexander makes no mistake with his kick.
Burnley 1, Reading 0
85 - Kalifa Cisse for Brynjar Gunnarsson.
87 - Jay Rodriguez for Martin Paterson.
89 - Robbie Smith releases Christian Kalvenes on the overlap but his driven shot flies over the Reading crossbar.
Stoppage time - Andre Bikey red carded for stamping on Robbie Blake.
Full-time:
Burnley 1, Reading 0
Burnley: Jensen; Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Kalvenes; Alexander; Eagles, Gudjonsson, McCann, Blake; Paterson. Subs: Penny, McDonald, Rodriguez, Jordan, Thompson.
Reading: Hahnemann; Rosenior, Bikey, Duberry, Harding; Kebe, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Tabb; Doyle, Long. Subs: Cisse, S. Hunt, Kitson, Karacan, Federici.
