Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich: Canaries sing as they secure £150m Premier League return

Norwich City sealed an immediate return to the Premier League, as the Canaries took advantage of Middlesbrough’s sluggish start to clinch a 2-0 play-off final victory at Wembley.

A hold up on the team bus meant Aitor Karanka’s men arrived at the Home of Football barely an hour before kick-off, and Boro perhaps paid the price for their delayed preparation.

The game appeared over with just 15 minutes on the clock, as two quick-fire goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond proved enough for the Yellows to lift the trophy and secure victory in this £150million contest.

Fans were treated to a rapid, end-to-end start from both sides, with Norwich midfielder Bradley Johnson and Boro’s Jelle Vossen both hitting the crossbar in the space of seconds.

Johnson’s left-footed drive from 18 yards had Dimitrios Konstantopoulos beat but hammered the bar, and, as Middlesbrough immediately broke on the counter, Belgian forward Vossen seemed to have netted a fine opener, only for his swerving volley to hit the very top corner of the woodwork.

It was a promising sign for Boro who, like Norwich, had to-and-froed in an out of the top two places all campaign.

But the Riverside outfit had a lethargic look about them and hopes of a first Premier League return since their relegation in 2009 was soon all-but extinguished as Alex Neil’s side turned on the style.

Jerome, who netted 19 Championship goals this season, robbed Daniel Ayala on the edge of the box and was unchallenged as he skipped towards goal, gave Konstantopoulos the eyes and coolly slotted in at his near post.

If that was a shock, Redmond’s strike was a hammer blow, as the young winger was given far too much space on the right flank before turning in the area and firing a low shot across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Neil’s wild celebrations buoyed the packed yellow and green half of Wembley, with the Carrow Road faithful signing with shouts of ‘ole’ as their side dominate the opening half.

But Boro rallied back after the break, with Ayala going close from a corner before Championship Player of the Year Patrick Bamford finally tested John Ruddy with a low drive after a neat turn into the box.

Vossen then took a tumble on the edge of the penalty area, after apparent contact from Wes Hoolahan halted the Belgian’s run, but instead of pointing to the spot, referee Mike Deanbooked the Boro man for diving.

Karanka rolled the dice with 30 minutes remaining, chucking three strikers forward in a desperate move to get his side back into the game, but it was Norwich who threatened to add to their scoreline.

Captain Russell Martin was presented the chance to put the contest to bed, but could only direct his header over the bar from a corner.

It mattered little in the end, though, as the final whistle soon blew to spark joy for Norwich, but misery for Middlesbrough, who will have to wait another year to end their top flight exile.