PERFECT MAN FOR THE JOB

Coyle's confident of keeping up his 100 per cent play-off record

- FRASER WILSON

OWEN COYLE hopes his perfect play-off record on British soil is an omen as Queen's Park look to plant their feet in the top flight.

Four times twice as a player and twice as a boss - the Spiders manager has been involved in the end-of-season drama and on each occasion he has emerged victorious.

Three of those have seen his side make the leap into the top tier just as Queen's hope to do for the first time since 1958.

And none has been bigger than when he led Burnley to a stunning Wembley victory over Sheffield United in front of 80,000 supporters in 2009.

This evening marks 14 years since the start of that journey when a Graham Alexander penalty was enough to give the Clarets a 1-0 semi-final first-leg lead against Reading.

The Royals were also the victims when Coyle scored for Bolton in a thrilling 4-3 success in the same final as a player in 1995. A year later he netted for Dundee United in extra-time as the Tangerines booked a return to the Premier League with a dramatic play-off victory over tonight's opponents Partick Thistle.