Russell Martin receives the trophy on behalf of his team-mates, who all got hugs and kisses from Delia Smith and Stephen Fry on their way up the Wembley steps. Norwich were superb this afternoon and will return to the Premier League next season. Commiserations, once again, to Middlesbrough, who failed to deliver the excellent football they’re more than capable of on the one afternoon when it mattered most.
Middlesbrough’s players and fans will be disappointed. It might seem like I’m stating the obvious, but they’ll be gutted with their team’s overall performance as well as the result. Boro never really seemed to get going and were thoroughly outclassed in a first half in which Norwich just blew them out of the water.
Later, in the second half when you’d expect them to put NOrwich’s goal under siege, it never really happened for them. Norwich never looked flustered or in any difficulty, Aitor Karanka’s decision to play Patrick Bamford, who was clearly unfit, for the entire 90 minutes was bewildering, but even with the Chelsea loanee firing on all cylinders, Norwich would have taken some beating today.
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Full time at Wembley: Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich City
Norwich win promotion to the Premier League after blitzing Middlesbrough with a wonderful first half performance, before consolidating their position that a second half performance that could scarcely have been more composed and assured. Cameron Jerome and Alex Tettey were the outstanding individuals in an excellent overall team performance, which Norwich skipper Russell Martin describes as “our best of the season so far” in his post-match interview. Hats off to Norwich manager Alex Neil, who has performed heroics in his first season in English football.
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Peep! Peep! Peep!!!!!!!! It’s all over. Norwich have beaten Middlesbrough 2-0 in the Championship play-off final and will return to the PRemier League next season. Having been thoroughly outclassed on the day, Middlesbrough will spend next season in the Championship. Commiserations to them, but they can have no complaints - Norwich were worthy winners this afternoon.
90+3 min: Boro punt the ball forward again, Norwich clear again. Jonny Howson and Lewis Grabban go a meandering up the field, holding possession rather than advancing on goal with any great purpose.
90+2 min: Middlesbrough struggle to play the ball out of their own half under relentless pressing from Norwich City. Eventually they go for broke and lump it forward, which is exactly what their opponents want them to do. John Ruddy collects.
89 min: The camera cuts from a group of deliriously excited Norwich City fans, to a group of their exceptionally glum counterparts from Teesside. Their team has four minutes in which to come up with two goals and it doesn’t look like they’ll get them.
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87 min: Norwich substitution: Gary O’Neil on, Nathan Redmond on. The Norwich City midfielder is a two-times Championship play-off final winner with West Ham and QPR. It looks like he’ll notch the hat-trick today.
86 min: A cross from deep is kept in play by Patrick Bamford at the far post, who immediately clutches his ankle. He’s quite clearly not fiut enough to playing in this game and Aitor Karanka’s insistence in persevering with him is baffling. Still, he knows better than I do, so presumably there’s method to his apparent madness.
84 min: Weary, disheartened Boro trudge forward again, down the right wing until they run out of options and the ball is played square to Adam Clayton, who is faced with two banks of men in green and gold. He surveys his options, then plays the ball backwards ...
81 min: Middlesbrough win a corner after good work from Patrick Bamford. Bassong clears at the near post and Boro have another. The ball’s sent into the mixer again, where Daniel Ayala’s free header from seven or eight yards is blocked by Lewis Grabban. Ayala was completely unmarked and should have scored there.
80 min: George Friend slaloms down the left flank, cuts inside and plays the ball across the Norwich City penalty area. There are roars of “handball!” as the ball strikes a defender, before City embark on a counter-attack. Nothing comes of it.
78 min: Norwich win a free-kickabout five yards outside the Boro penalty area, left of centre. Redmond and Dorrans stand over it, but it’s the former who strikes the ball. He attempts to curl it over the wall and inside the upright, but his reasonably decent effort fizzes high and wide.
76 min: With just 15 minutes left in which to score two goals, there remains a distinct lack of urgency about the manner in which Middlesbrough’s players are going about their business. Considering Norwich scored their two in the space of three minutes, there’s no real need for Boro to start throwing the kitchen sink around yet, but their poor supporters must be traumatised.
74 min: Norwich substitutions: Cameron Jerome off after an outstanding performance, Lewis Grabban on. Wes Hoolahan off, Graham Dorrans on Hoolahan’s done nothing wrong, but Dorrans will help the Canaries shut up their cage.
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72 min: Boro attempt to build from the back, with Norwich’s pressing and harrying conspicuously less frenetic now that their players have 70 minutes and several kilometres apiece on the clock. The ball finds its way to Albert Adomah on the right, but Norwich stand firm.
70 min: Kike crosses the ball into the Middlesbrough penalty area for Patrick Bamford, who is caught flat-footed and second to the ball. Norwich City clear their lines again.
68 min: From the corner, Russell Martin heads over the bar while Dimi Konstantopolous was being held by Jonny Howson. Goal-kick - it seems the goal would have stood if the header had been on target.
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67 min: More industrious work from Jerome earns another corner for Norwich. He’s been immense today. Immense. Middlesbrough substitution: Kike on, Jelle Vossen off.
66 min: The clock ticks relentlessly on, with each passing minute another a little poison dart in the hopes and dreams of Middlesbrough fans. They’ve played a lot more impressively in this second half than they did in the first, but Norwich’s defence is holding firm.
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65 min: Steven Whittaker picks up the ball in midfield, takes it around Patrick Bamford with ease and then wastes possession with a poor attempt at a cross.
63 min: Johnny Howson gets booked for a nip on the ankles of Lee Tomlin, who was attempting to turn in a dangerous area. He’s taken one for the team there, has Mr Howson.
62 min: More good play from Cameron Jerome, who uses his power to beat one man and advance on the Boro penalty area. Ben Gibson takes the ball of his toe to avert the danger for Boro.
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60 min: Ben Gibson makes a pig’s ear of dealing with a long ball coming his way and concedes a corner: Norwich’s first of the afternoon. Nothing comes of it. On the sideline, Graham Dorrans is preparing to come on for Norwich.
59 min: Lee Tomlin picks out Patrick Bamford on the edge of the NOrwich penalty area with a delightful short diagonal pass. The Chelsea loanee turns and shoots in one movement, but fails to get much power on his shot, which fails to trouble John Ruddy.
57 min: Adomah is looking lively for Boro in this second half and attempts to send another cross into the Norwich penalty area. Sebastien Bassong blocks and Norwich clear their lines again, but at least Boro’s fans have some reasons for optimism where previously there were few or none.
55 min: Admoah pelts down the right touchline for Boro and drives in a cross. Having won possession and advanced into the penalty area from the left flank, Jelle Vossen throws himself to the ground under pressure from Wes Hoolahan and gets booked for diving. Despite Vossen’s protestations, replays suggest Mike Dean’s decision to brandish his yellow card was 100% correct.
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54 min: From Leadbitter’s corner, Bassong and Daniel Ayala rise to contest the header. The ball goes out off the Norwich City player, but his team win the goal-kick anyway. Ayala complains, but Mike Dean is not for turning.
53 min: Clayton, Nsue and Adomah combine down the right for Boro. The ball’s played into Lee Tomlin, who picks out George Friend in the penalty area. His attempted cross is put out for a corner.
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51 min: Under pressure from Cameron Jerome, Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopolous is forced to lump the ball forward, conceding possession to Norwich City in the process. That’s excellent play from the NOrwich striker, who has worked tirelessly for his team this afternoon. HOw long he’ll be able to keep it up remains to be seen, he’s holding the back of one leg and limping a bit after appearing to pick up a hamstring strain.
50 min: Good play from Boro, who win a corner after Bassong is forced to turn a low Albert Adomah cross out for a corner. Daniel Ayala is unable to keep his header on the subsequent outswinger down and puts the ball over the bar.
47 min: There’s a pause in play as Bradley Johnson gets treatment after shipping a blow to the back of his head while contesting a high ball. He’s fit to continue and play resumes with Dimi Konstantopolous roilling the ball out to Emilio Ensue, who belts it up the field. Sebastien Bassong wins the header for Norwich.
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46 min: Wes Hoolahan outmuscles a defender to unleash a shot from the edge of the penalty area after wrapping his left foot around a bouncing ball. I say “unleash”, but he didn’t really get a hold of it - the ball bounces harmlessly wide of the upright.
Second half: Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich City
Boro get the ball rolling, with just 45 minutes to find the two goals by which they trail. They’ve made one change: Emilio Nsue on for Dean Whitehead at right-back. That’s one makeshift right-back for another.
So long Billo #okeydoke
Irish sport is paying its respect to a broadcasting legend this afternoon http://t.co/M4pLNuexvu pic.twitter.com/NMtzydJr6m
— The42.ie (@The42_ie) May 25, 2015
Harry Redknapp speaks: “They’ve gotta change how they play,” says the Sky pundit of Middlesbrough. “They’ve got to get Tomlin in the game.” He’s not wrong. They also need to get their midfield duo of Clayton and Leadbitter, who are being completely over-run, into the game and could do with perhaps getting an honest appraisal of Patrick Bamford’s fitness from the man himself, as he looks to be struggling badly after coming into this match carrying a knock. Surely a fit Kike is worth more to the team than an unfit Bamford?
Half-time at Wembley: Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich City
Norwich City go in at the break having dominated a first half in which they created four decent chances in as many minutes and scored two of them, courtesy of Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond. Middlesbrough could have opened the scoring with a shot off the crossbar from George Friend, but have been otherwise far from their best. Aitor Karanka has a big job on his hands at half-time, while his opposite number Alex Neil will need to convince his players that this match is far from over as a contest ... yet.
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45 min: We’re into the first of two minutes of added time as Boro continue their search for a goal. They’re playing very poorly and are capable of a lot better than this.
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43 min: Russell Martin gets penalised for a foul on Lee Tomlin. Referee Mike Dean summons him for a talking-to, but keeps his yellow card in his pocket. From the ensuing free-kick, Grant Leadbitter plays the ball into the Norwich penalty area, where Alex Tetty is on hand to head clear.
42 min: Now George Friend attempts to pick out Bamford, but the pair get their wires crossed and the ball trickles harmlessly wide.
41 min: Middlesbrough hoof the ball the length of the vast expanse of greenery that separates their striker Patrick Bamford from the rest of his team-mates. Russell Martin and Sebastien Bassong clear easily, as you’d expect from two experienced central defenders marking a loan striker who’s cutting an increasingly isolated and forlorn figure.
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40 min: Russell Martin pings the ball down the right flank for Norwich City, aiming for Nathan Redmond. The winger plays the ball inside towards Bradley Johnson, who finds himself outnumbered and loses possession.
38 min: Having been under the cosh for a few minutes, Norwich resume position and start pinging the ball around amongst themselves inside the Boro half, enjoying a period of sustained possession that has their supporters ole-ing to their hearts’ content.
37 min: George Friend wins another corner for Boro. Leadbitter whips the ball in to the area, where Steven Whittaker heads the ball out for another corner. Nothing comes of it and Norwich have a goal kick.
35 min: Sebastien Bassong gets penalised for handball in the Norwich City right-back position. Grant Leadbitter swings the ball into the penalty area, where John Ruddy punches clear.
33 min: In the battle of the centre-forwards, Cameron Jerome is winning comfortably. He may not have the natural talent of his opposite number Patrick Bamford, but he’s already got a goal to his name and is working tirelessly as Norwich’s first line of defence, pressing, tracking back and getting stuck into the tackle. Bamford, by contrast, has done little or nothing thus far.
30 min: Albert Adomah runs in behind Boro left-back Martin Olsson to get on the end of pass down the left and hook it across the face of goal, where Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy gathers comfortably with the help of Sebastien Bassong. Good work from the right-winger, who is being double-marked any time the ball comes near him. He slipped his security detail on that occasion.
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29 min: The camera cuts to Delia Smith, whose visage appears on the giant Wembley scoreboard to cheers from the Norwich City fans.
28 min: Boro win a free-kick some way outside the Norwich penalty area, well left of centre. Leadbitter whips the ball towards the far post, where John Ruddy allows it to bounce wide. Leadbitter promptly berates his team-mates for failing to get in position to attack what was a decent dead ball delivery on his part.
27 min: Correction: Jelle Vossen was there to try and capitalise, but his weak header failed to trouble John Rddy in the Norwich goal.
26 min: George Friend whips the ball across the face of the Norwich City goal, but there’s nobody there to capitalise.
25 min: Steven Whittaker clears the ball down the right flank, but only as far as George Friend. Middlesbrough set off on another sortie into Norwich territory courtesy of Albert Adomah.
23 min: Leadbitter’s delivery is poor and fails to clear the first man. The corner is cleared at the near post.
22 min: Corner for Middlesbrough, which Grant Leadbitter will take.
20 min: Redmond stands the ball up at the far post, but with Dimi Konstantopolous out of the equation, Cameron Jerome is unable to reach it. Good defending from George Friend. Norwich are in danger of running amok here, unless Boro can regroup and settle into this match. Patrick Bamford hasn’t had a sniff of the ball yet and even more ominously for Middlesbrough ... neither has Wes Hoolahan, the creative force behind the side that is already two up.
17 min: That was a splendid goal by Norwich City. Whittaker and Redmond went a rampaging down the right flank, with the latter sprinting inside towards the penalty area to pick up the cross from his team-mate. His first touch was wonderful and his shot from approximately 14 yards nigh on unstoppable. With less than 20 minutes gone, Middlesbrough are already on the ropes.
GOAL! Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich City (Redmond 15)
15 min: Good lord, they’ve only gone and scored again. From the right flank, Steven Whittaker picks out Nathan Redmond in the penalty area and with a brilliant first touch, the midfielder takes Ben Gibson out of the game and gives himself a yard in which to shoot. Boom! Konstantopolous had no chance.
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14 min: With less than 15 minutes gone, we’ve already seen one goal, as well as two shots hitting the woodwork. So much for this being cagey, tense and nervy, eh?
GOAL! Middlesbrough 0-1 Norwich (Jerome 12)
13 min: Norwich take the lead. Daniel Ayala gets dispossessed by Cameron Jerome on the right side of his own penalty area. The striker advances towards goal and beats Dimi Konstantopolous at his near post with a low diagonal effort. Desperate defending and poor goalkeeping - the Canaries take first blood.
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11 min: Oof! Now Middlesbrough hit the woodwork, with Jelle Vossen, my bet for first goalscorer, crashing a shot from distance off the crossbar.
10 min: Norwich City miss the first and second chances of note in quick succession. Cameron Jerome should have done better after getting between defenders, only to miss a cross from the right completely. Following up, Bradley Johnson rattles the Boro crossbar with a rasping shot from distance.
8 min: Nathan Redmond sends another cross into the Boro penalty area, but Dean Whitehead does well to prevent Jerome getting on the end of it.
7 min: Nothing in the way of goal chances so far, but the game’s got off to a lively, if raggedy start. Tettey, Hoolahan and Jerome are putting the Boro back four under pressure whenever they find themselves with the ball.
4 min: Both sides have lined up with similar formations, with two holding midfielders between their respective back fours and their three attacking midfielders. Both managers have gone for lone strikers. In Patrick Bamford, Middlesbrough have gone for a lone loan striker.
3 min: Nathan Redmond floats a cross into the Boro penalty for Bradley Johnson to head, but it’s a might too high. Boro clear their lines.
2 min: Lee Tomlin gets on the ball over on the far touchline, near the halfway line. It’s played back to his back four, who ping it around under a press from Cameron Jerome.
1 min: Norwich kick off and immediately hoof the ball forward. Middlesbrough return it to midfield, where PAtrick Bamford gets his first touch and is unceremoniously dispossessed by Alex Tetty. Game on!
National anthem: A lady named Hannah sings the national anthem and the players exchanged handshakes. On the face of it, Middlesbrough’s look slightly more relaxed. Fair dues to them, I’d be terrified.
Here we go then.... #Boro pic.twitter.com/M18xl3LjYp
— Scott Wilson (@Scottwilsonecho) May 25, 2015
Not long now: The teams line up in the Wembley tunnel with Middlesbrough’s players wearing red shirts with a white sash, white shorts and red socks. The players of Norwich will also wear their customary home kit of yellow and green shirts, green shorts and green and yellow socks with green trim. They march out on to the pitch and line-up for the pre-match niceties. Good luck to one and all; here’s hoping for a great game of football.
Norwich City manager Alex Neil speaks: “Obviously we hope our players’ Premier League experience counts,” he says. “I’m going into the match with complete confidence in them and they have complete confidence in themselves. It’s fantastic.”
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Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka speaks: “I think everybody is excited,” he says. “It’s my first time in Wembley and I’m very pleased when I feel my crowd supporting us here and I feel my players are ready.”
Just 15 minutes until kick-off: The players of both teams have just traipsed off after their warm-ups and are back in the dressing rooms for their last-minute instructions. Wembley is jammed to the rafters, with both clubs having sold out their allocations.
Sky Sports pundit Peter Beagrie visits Boro’s training ground: He’s there to meet the team’s midfield duo Adam Clayton and Grant Leadbitter, who have played such a pivotal role in their side’s promotion push. Clayton is happy to admit he’s had to change his game this season, in order to do all his team-mate’s running for him. The good-humoured pair seem quietly confident ahead of the game tonight.
“Their job today is to stop Hoolahan getting into those little pockets and to protect their back four,” says Harry Redknapp, who is standing pitchside at Wembley alongside Beagrie and Mark Warburton. “As a pair they’re so very effective,” says the former Brentford manager.
On the subject of tense finals ... Why not while away the wait until kick-off with our brick-by-brick recreation of a certain Champions League final that took place 10 years ago.
Middlesbrough v Norwich City line-ups ...
Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Whitehead, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah, Vossen, Tomlin, Bamford.
Subs: Garcia, Ripley, Reach, Nsue, Amorebieta, Forshaw,
Woodgate.
Norwich: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson, Redmond, Howson, Tettey, Johnson, Hoolahan, Jerome.
Subs: Grabban, Hooper, Elliott Bennett, Ryan Bennett, Rudd, O’Neil, Dorrans.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
TEAM NEWS: Dimi, Whitehead, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Tomlin, Vossen, Bamford.
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) May 25, 2015
#NCFC team vs @Boro: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin (c), Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Howson, Tettey, Johnson; Hoolahan; Jerome. #OurFinalStep
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) May 25, 2015
Team news filtering through from Wembley ...
Patrick Bamford starts up front for Middlesbrough, who also field Dean Whitehead at right-back. We’ll have the line-ups for you very shortly.
Hello everybody ...
Welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of the Championship play-off final, the single most valuable one-off contest in world sport. Worth £120m to the winners, today’s match is being contested by Middlesbrough and Norwich, with the winners advancing to the promised land that is the Premier League, while the losers can look forward to another season of toil and graft in the Championship.
Just one point separated Norwich and Middlesbrough in the table as they finished third and fourth respectively, but Boro could be forgiven for thinking they have the edge of their East Anglian rivals, having emerged victorious from both their league encounters this season. One suspects that’ll mean little or nothing this afternoon, however, on an unspeakably tense occasion for both sets of fans who may well be aware that the bookies can barely split the two sides when it comes to picking their idea of a likely winner. Kick-off is at 3pm (BST), but we’ll have team news and build-up an hour before that.
