Proud boss Gary Johnson has paid tribute to his players and thanked them for putting Bristol back on the sporting map. City stand on the verge of creating history after they came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate in a pulsating play-off semi-final second leg at Ashton Gate. The Robins will contest the Wembley final a week on Saturday when they will meet either Hull City or Watford, who conclude their semi-final at the KC Stadium tonight.And City manager Johnson said the eyes of the world would be on his side in the build-up to what he described as "one of the biggest games on earth". A £60 million prize and a place in the Premier League awaits the Wembley winners. Looking ahead to the club's biggest game in a generation, Johnson declared: "This has put Bristol City on the map. Bristol is a massive football city and we're going to take fantastic support to London with us. But this will be seen beyond Bristol and people all over the country will now be talking about our football club. We now have an opportunity to enhance our reputation and ensure people are talking about Bristol City for all the right reasons."
Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City have been allocated 36,007 tickets for the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 24. These will go on sale to 2007-08 season ticket holders (two per applicant) and existing City Foundation members only from 9am tomorrow until this Saturday (midnight).Tickets will be available by phone only on a dedicated line - 0844 847 1740 - and calls will be charged at 5p per minute and answered 24 hours a day. Season ticket holders should quote the client reference number found on the ticket inside their wallet. City Foundation members should quote their full membership number. Season ticket holders are advised that they are guaranteed tickets as long as they contact Ticketmaster within the above times. No tickets will be sold in person or by phone at the stadium, or online.
Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City are keeping the cider on ice as they chase a place in history. Boss Gary Johnson reckons his players are scared stiff of blowing their big shot at securing a place in the Premier League for the first time. There were no boozy celebrations last night, even though the club made it through to the play-off final on Saturday week on a night of incredible emotion at Ashton Gate. Johnson said: "I don't need to tell them, there is no muck in them. And they know that if they go out and get blotto then they won't be ready in 10 days' time. There is a right way to celebrate because we still have a massive game to come." For the second game in a row Robins left it late before striking the killer blow to see off stubborn Crystal Palace ? and their even more stubborn boss Neil Warnock. It took 104 minutes before City striker Lee Trundle scored the decisive goal which led to Palace's collapse. Before that there had been a punch up in the dugout, a missed penalty and a howler from City keeper Adriano Basso. Michael McIndoe's sensational 30-yard strike 10 minutes from the end of extra-time was merely the icing on the cake in an excellent advert for Championship football.
The Sun

Neil Warnock last night vowed to stage another promotion fight next season after a Bristol City fan took a swing at him during City's pitch invasion. Jubilant Robins supporters invaded the Ashton Gate pitch at the final whistle following their side's dramatic extra-time win. And Palace boss Warnock, who has won promotion on four out of his five previous play-off attempts, had to run for safety after his promotion dreams were shattered. When Ben Watson levelled the contest on aggregate with a first-half header, Palace were on course to become the first ever club to recover from a first leg deficit in the second leg away from home. But England Under-21 star Watson then hit the post from a 71st-minute penalty as the stormy contest went to extra time. And Lee Trundle popped up with a brilliant 104th-minute left-foot winner for the Robins before a Michael McIndoe strike from outside the box ensured City's win on the night three minutes later. City fans invaded the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate their Wembley date when they will face the winners of tonight's second semi-final between Hull and Watford which the Tigers lead 2-0 from the first leg.
Mirror

Lee Trundle may have struggled to win over Bristol City's supporters but he will be revered for life in the West Country after his brilliant extra-time strike put his side within touching distance of a debut Premier League campaign. The forward, a big-money signing from Swansea City last summer, scored only the sixth goal of his Robins' career to end Crystal Palace's resistance and book a Wembley date in the Championship play-off final. More importantly, Bristol City have rediscovered the momentum which could see them claim back-to-back promotions and scoop the £60m windfall of reaching the top-flight. Michael McIndoe added the gloss with a late free-kick but it was Trundle who repaid a huge slice of his fee with a strike which killed off the Eagles' challenge led by Ben Watson. Watson, who opened the scoring, went from hero to zero when his 71st minute penalty rebounded off the post and Trundle made the most of the lifeline to boost Bristol City's bid for a place in the top flight after a 28-year absence. "It was a great goal from Lee and we have players with great quality," said City's manager, Gary Johnson. "He's a fantastic footballer and has ability not seen at any level. We knew if we got him fit and working hard we have match-winner in him. He's becoming a hero we thought he'd be. It could have gone either way. To get through you need heart and endeavour and we had that. We made a mistake with their goal but I trust these players with their fitness and commitment late on. It's a credit to the medical team, staff and my players to work hard for games like this."
Guardian

Lee Trundle scored only his sixth goal of the season to break the deadlock in a pulsating Championship play-off semi-final and take Bristol City to Wembley. The £1million signing from Swansea, a star of the lower divisions for many seasons, has not made much impact at Ashton Gate, but showed great skill to control a poor clearance on the edge of the area and send a superb left-footed half-volley past Julian Speroni 14 minutes into extra time. City made sure of a play-off final against Hull or Watford when Michael McIndoe struck a powerful free-kick into the bottom corner with 10 minutes left. Defeat was particularly hard on Palace's Ben Watson, who followed up his first leg penalty by heading the only goal of normal time, but missed a spot-kick on 72 minutes.
Daily Mail

Goals in each half of extra-time from Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe helped Bristol City secure their place in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on 24 May against Hull City or Watford. And, having been chided by the Palace manager, Neil Warnock, for celebrating too early following their 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday, Gary Johnson and his players could be excused their rapturous reaction to the final whistle. "Credit to [Warnock], he came over and said congratulations at the end," Johnson said. "Everyone has to be humble in defeat and I tried to be humble in victory. This is why we've worked so hard this season, for these two extra games, because you need to finish strong. We've won both games 2-1 and that's put us through to one of the biggest games in the world." The two goals which took them there would grace any stage. Trundle's curling left-foot shot was only his sixth goal of the season but easily the most valuable; McIndoe's 30-yard strike in the 110th minute gave way to unbridled joy among the home fans.
Independent

Lee Trundle, often described as a £1 million misfit since his move to Bristol City from Swansea last summer, may have repaid that figure with a huge amount of interest after scoring an extra-time goal which helped his team to Wembley, where they will meet either Hull or Watford in the Championship play-off final. Another of Gary Johnson's signings following their promotion from League One last season, Michael McIndoe, a loser at this stage of the play-offs with Wolves a year ago, made the outcome certain on a night few will forget at Ashton Gate. "I'm so proud," beamed Johnson afterwards. "We keep coming back from adversity and had to do so again." Ben Watson, the Crystal Palace midfielder, was both hero and villain in a thrilling match. He scored midway through the first half to level the tie overall but with 18 minutes left, he spurned a chance to take Palace to Wembley when his penalty struck a post. Palace manager Neil Warnock said: "I wouldn't have wanted to take a penalty like that. I couldn't even look myself. They scored two great goals and I've been in their dressing room to wish them well for the final."
Telegraph

Bristol City are one game away from the promised land of the Barclays Premier League after Gary Johnson's team rode their luck to defeat Crystal Palace with two goals in extra time of last night's Coca-Cola Championship play-offs semi-final, second leg. Neil Warnock, the outspoken Palace manager, needed a posse of security guards to make it back to the dressing-room after the final whistle as thousands of City fans invaded the pitch amid chaotic scenes. Warnock, who is no stranger to controversy, had accused City players of celebrating as if they had already made it to Wembley after they won the first leg 2-1 at Selhurst Park last Saturday and several fans gave him a piece of their minds as he stumbled towards the safety of the players' tunnel, which is about 50 metres away from the dugouts at Ashton Gate. "One young yobbo caught me," Warnock said. "I think one of the security guards got him because I heard him squeal, but millions of people would probably like to have a pop at me." Warnock is supposed to be a bad loser, but the Palace manager made a point of going into the dressing-room to congratulate Johnson's team at the end of a match that hung in the balance until Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe scored in extra time.
Times