Simeon Jackson fired Norwich back into the Premier League as his goal clinched a promotion-winning 1-0 victory at Portsmouth.
Canaries hit the big time after Fratton Park victory
Simeon Jackson fired Norwich back into the Premier League as his goal clinched a promotion-winning 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on Monday night.
Third-placed Cardiff's shock defeat at home to Middlesbrough earlier that evening had left the door wide open for Paul Lambert's men and in-form Jackson's second-half strike was enough to sink stubborn Pompey at Fratton Park as the Canaries grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
For the striker the crucial goal marked his ninth in seven matches and means City will return to the top-flight for the first time since their relegation six years ago, having climbed out of League One only last year.
They hit rock-bottom when they were at the foot of the third tier on the opening day of last season following a 7-1 defeat by Colchester.
Their reaction to that hammering was to promptly hire the opposition manager, and just 20 months later Lambert's Norwich have become the first team to achieve back-to-back promotions to the top flight since Manchester City in 2000.
Memorable
On a memorable night for the Norfolk club, more than 3,000 fans partied in the away stand while club shareholder and chief cheerleader Delia Smith celebrated in the directors' box.
Expectation was in the air after Cardiff's implosion in the evening's early kick-off, and Norwich should have taken the lead with less than a minute on the clock.
David Fox's free-kick was deflected high into the air and onto the head of defender Zak Whitbread, but he nodded wide from all of three yards out.
Moments later Andrew Surman's cross was half-cleared to the feet of Jackson but the striker was off target for once.
Pompey may have had little to play for, but they were clearly not in the mood to host a party and Aaron Mokoena and Hermann Hreidarsson were soon in referee Andy D'Urso's notebook for some pretty unfriendly challenges.
City's skipper and top scorer Grant Holt fashioned their best chance of the first half, expertly controlling Fox's high ball on his in-step and turning Mokoena at the same time.
But his prod past Jamie Ashdown had no power and Mokoena was able to recover and clear the danger.
Two minutes into the second half Norwich passed up another good chance when Jackson tore past Mokoena to reach Holt's lobbed pass only to slide his angled shot wide.
But Jackson made no mistake three minutes later to send the City fans behind the goal wild.
Space
Andrew Crofts found Fox in space and the midfielder swung in a superb cross for Jackson to bury his header past Ashdown.
Portsmouth, to their credit, tried to hit back and twice Kanu was denied from close range.
But nothing was going to deny Norwich, who have doggedly pursued runaway leaders QPR all season.
And, barring an FA points deduction for Rangers, City's victory means the Championship automatic promotion and relegation issues are all settled with a week of the season still to go.
