Norwich City Promoted to the English Premier League
After an absence of six years, Norwich City will finally be returning to the English Premier League after they beat Portsmouth 1-0 last night. Simeon Jackson scored the solitary goal of the night as Norwich made
sure they can now not be knocked off the second automatic promotion spot.
The win marks a remarkable rise for the Canaries, who only back in 2009-10 were playing in the League one and were thrashed 7-1 by Colchester on the opening day just 18 months ago.
But under Paul Lambert, their fortunes have been transformed as they become the first side after Manchester City to secure back to back promotions.
Cardiff suffered a setback in their feeble bid as they lost to mid-table strugglers, Middlesbrough, leaving Canaries with the knowledge that a win against Portsmouth will guarantee their promotion to the top flight.
After having secured their second tier status last May by 9 points, not many predicted a second promotion for Norwich this year, but they have upset all the odds and are now in delirium.
Paul Lambert’s side have shown remarkable consistency this season and have only suffered one defeat in their last 15 games and have never been defeated in back to back games this season, a run of form that has seen them
securing a place in the Premier League.
Norwich made a bright start to the game last night and within minutes of the start they should have forged ahead, but Zak Whitbread missed a great chance when he headed wide off the mark from a free kick.
Jackson also had a shot blocked from within the box early on but Norwich City dominated the possession and Pompey never really stood a chance of upsetting their opponents on the night.
Norwich’s slick play on the night saw their opponents resort to physical play as
Hermann Hreidarsson fouled Grant Holt with a horrific challenge but escaped a booking. However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aaron-Mokoena-c3063 was not as lucky when he was booked for a lunge on Jackson.
Despite all of Norwich’s possession, the game became scrappy as Norwich piled on the pressure, but Pompey were h**l bent upon rattling their opponents by using dirty tactics.
Elliot Ward had a chance to put his side ahead, but like Whitbreah, he also headed wide from close range while Grant Holt also missed a gilt edged chance soon after. Jackson was the next man to miss a chance as
he slashed his his shot wide off the keeper, under pressure from Mokoena.
It seemed like lady luck was deserting the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Canaries-c38723 as both the teams went into the breather deadlocked at 0-0.
But after the break, Norwich did finally manage to overcome their profligacy when Simeon Jackson headed in a teasing cross from Fox to send the 3000 fans jubilant in the aisles.
Norwich had a chance to double their advantage soon after but Russel Martin’s crisp shot from outside the box was well saved by the keeper.
Pompey did try to get back in the game after the goal as they upped the ante but Norwich kept them at bay with some resilient and dogged defending. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Nugent-c10567 combined in the attack for Pompey but the
Nigerian angled his shot wide off the keeper to miss a gilt edged chance for Pompey.
Norwich did manage to protect their slender lead to spark off wild celebrations at the final whistle and now prepare themselves for a life in the top flight.
Norwich can still be awarded the Championship title if QPR are docked 15 points by the FA for their breach of third party ownership rules, but the hearing is still pending in that case.
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