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That was a trouble free journey and we were at the Madejski in good time as the Burnley fans were already starting to gather outside. The atmosphere was calm and most people looked relaxed enough and there was a lot of confidence.
Most were discussing the team news. It had filtered through to me just after lunch, but it seemed most people were aware that Wade Elliott was back after missing Saturday through injury and both he and Steven Thompson would start at the expense of Joey Gudjonsson and Chris Eagles who were on the bench.
A 4-4-2 system then it seemed, but Owen Coyle has a habit of springing surprises and it turned out that we were playing with the usual formation with Martin Paterson on the right and Wade now in is almost accustomed position in the centre of midfield alongside Chris McCann.
Steve Coppell certainly had a surprise in his line up with Simon Church making his full debut in such an important game. It was even more surprising when you saw such as Stephen Hunt, Dave Kitson and former Claret Glen Little on the bench.
The scene was set. With Kevin Blackwell and Aidy Boothroyd just about sat in the away end we were ready in front of what was far from a full Madejski. Perhaps no one had told the Reading fans of the importance of the game.
I'm not the calmest of people in these situations and the day before I'd received a text telling me I'd be even worse if we had to take a bombardment from Reading in the first, and vital, twenty minutes.
And that's exactly what happened. We really couldn't get our game going at all. We struggled for possession, we didn't seem to be able to pass the ball as we should, and Reading kept coming at us.
Christian Kalvenes got an early yellow card and we really were coming under pressure down the two flanks. But did Reading create a host of clear cut chances? The answer is a resounding no.
Yes, they got the ball into our box far too often for comfort but they didn't really create much in terms of chances. Our two central defenders were again in masterful form and behind them goalkeeper Brian Jensen didn't put a foot wrong.
During a first half which, in all fairness, Reading dominated, we kept them at bay and the Beast really only had a couple of saves of note to make. One was from an angled shot from the right and the other from a free kick that he himself had unfortunately given away just outside the box.
At the other end only a deflected Elliott shot over the bar caused them any worry. But at half time the 0-0 scoreline was very much in our favour. We were still in front on aggregate and surely Reading wouldn't keep that up for the next forty-five minutes.
Things didn't really change at the beginning of the second half as the home side again started on top. But they were to change very soon, and very dramatically. With still over half an hour to go the tie was just about dead and buried.
It all started with a Reading attack that ended when Graham Alexander nicked the ball of Marek Matejovsky just inside our box. He played the ball forward for Thommo who beat Michael Duberry inside his own half before finding Paterson on the right hand side.
Paterson stepped over the half way line with it, moved forward, cut inside, and with me screaming for him to play it left for Robbie Blake he instead opted to hit a left footer just inside Marcus Hahnemann's right hand post from almost 35-yards.
The away end erupted; we'd doubled our lead with an absolute stunner from Pato. Whatever he is, and whatever he isn't, 35-yarders with the left foot are definitely not his forte. "Que sera sera," sang some Burnley fans but after January I've learned my lesson that one.
It's often said things come in threes, and in the next six minutes we got a trio of threes. Firstly Coppell made a triple substitution with all of Hunt, Kitson and Little coming on. Then Mike Riley decided to add to his collection of yellow cards with three more with Wade going in the book alongside Reading's Kitson and Shane Long.
The Long booking, or the subsequent free kick, brought the third threesome. Jensen took the kick from just outside his box. It was long and to the left where Thompson won it. It dropped, maybe off a touch from the defender, just outside the box on the left hand side.
He looked up, and half volleyed the ball over Hahnemann, against the underside of the bar and in. Three substitutions, three yellow cards, and now a 3-0 aggregate lead. The away end erupted again and "Que sera sera," sang some Burnley fans. I was still too hesitant.
We'd still half an hour to go and I've seen too much football to count my chickens. But in all honesty the game was over. The Reading players knew it and I felt we were in total control for the rest of the game.
We made changes with both goalscorers getting their standing ovation opportunities (having said that we'd stood all night) and Wade also came off after a magnificent second half performance.
Meanwhile the fans had spotted Blackwell just behind them and were very politely, but noisily, informing him that he's apparently just a shit Neil Warnock. He took it well and acknowledged the Burnley fans.
I remember looking at the clock showing ten minutes with of course Riley time to be added. I thought surely we couldn't let this go. When Riley time was announced at three minutes I knew we'd done it and as "Que sera sera," started again. This time I was joining in, we'd done it.
The scenes after the final whistle were something I'll remember for a long, long time. Just before the end I'd looked down from my lofty perch on Row EE at those Burnley fans near the front. It was a magnificent site and it all continued long after the final whistle and long after the Burnley players had left the field.
Some Reading fans remained and applauded our brilliant, brilliant fans. What a performance from that south stand all night. Even the Reading players, who came out to applaud their few remaining supporters, applauded us, even Liam Rosenior who apparently doesn't think we're that good.
Glen Little, booed last time he played against us at the Turf got the 'Super Glen' and 'You'll always be a Claret' chants, his response was polite applause but from some distance.
As the Burnley fans demanded the return of the players the chant turned to 'We're not going home'. But there was to be no return for the players, they were already back to earth and preparing for Wembley a week next Monday.
The night was coming to an end, not as though it will ever fade from the memory. We'd had heroes out there and it was difficult choosing one for the man of the match. In the end I'd three candidates. Wade Elliott was one for his brilliant second half performance, and the other two were again our central defenders who were just immense in the first half. This time I'm going for the skipper Steven Caldwell.
Our journey home was brilliant, calls and texts a plenty, so many Burnley fans on the road and when we stopped for a few minutes at Hilton Park services on the M6 you'd have thought we were playing a home game there.
I'm home now. Am I still emotional, knackered and elated? Very much so on all three counts. And, I have to report, I'm going to Wembley on Monday 25th May. I suspect I'll see many of you there. Let's make it one really special Burnley day.
COME ON YOU CLARETS
The teams were;
Reading: Marcus Hahnemann, Liam Rosenior, Alex Pearce, Michael Duberry, Dan Harding, Jay Tabb, Marek Matejovsky (Stephen Hunt 52), Brynjar Gunnarsson, Simon Church (Glen Little 53), Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe (Dave Kitson 53). Subs not used: Adam Federici, Kalifa Cisse.
Yellow Cards: Michael Duberry, Dave Kitson, Shane Long.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Christian Kalvenes, Graham Alexander, Martin Paterson (Joey Gudjonsson 71), Wade Elliott (Chris Eagles 84), Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Steven Thompson (Jay Rodriguez 79). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Kevin McDonald.
Yellow Cards: Christian Kalvenes, Wade Elliott.
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds).
Attendance: 19,909.