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Norwich reach Premier League after early blitz sees off Middlesbrough Norwich reach Premier League after early blitz sees off Middlesbrough
(about 1 hour later)
They played like a team who were in a hurry to get back to the Premier League. Norwich City had dismantled the most parsimonious defence in the Championship inside the opening quarter of an hour. The goals came in a three-minute blitz and at the final whistle it was the yellow end, rather than Middlesbrough’s banks of red, where the euphoria could be found. They played like a team that was in a hurry to get back to the Premier League. Norwich City had dismantled the most parsimonious defence in the Championship inside the opening quarter of an hour and at the final whistle it was the yellow end, rather than Middlesbrough’s banks of red, where the euphoria could be found.
Alex Neil’s team started brilliantly and the damage for Middlesbrough was grievous bearing mind the last time they overturned a 2-0 deficit was all the way back in 2006, when Steve McClaren was the manager, Mark Viduka was in attack and the opposition was Steaua Bucharest in a Uefa Cup semi-final. The modern-day team did rally briefly in the second half but there were only fleeting moments when they threatened to get back on terms and Norwich’s return to the top division is ultimately their reward for having the foresight to appoint Neil from Hamilton Academicals when they needed a new manager in January. At the other side of the stadium, they did at least buck the modern trend of deserting en masse as soon as it became apparent there was no way back for their team. Yet the damage inflicted on Middlesbrough during those three minutes when the goals were scored was always likely to be grievous. The last time they won from 2-0 down was back in 2006 when Steve McClaren was manager, Mark Viduka partnered Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in attack and the opposition was Steaua Bucharest in a Uefa Cup semi-final. The modern-day team do not have a Viduka or Hasselbaink and, though they did rally briefly in the second half, there were only fleeting moments when they seriously threatened. Ultimately, there could be no dispute that promotion had gone to the more rounded team.
Neil comes from Bellshill, the same town in north Lanarkshire where Sir Matt Busby grew up, and is a reminder of Scotland’s prolific production line after a season in which Paul Lambert’s sacking at Aston Villa has left England’s top division without any managers from north of the border. At 33, Neil will also be one of the youngest managers of the Premier League era and there is plenty to admire judging by the way his team established a position of command in the first half then ensured the second 45 minutes was relatively stress free. Related: Norwich too good for Middlesbrough thanks to Alex Neil’s canny approach | Paul Doyle
For Middlesbrough, it was a jarring way to end a season when their defence has been so instrumental to their progress. They will wonder whether it might have been different if Jelle Vossen after nine minutes had not clanged a shot off the crossbar but Bradley Johnson had done the same for Norwich barely 30 seconds earlier and the bottom line is that Aitor Karanka’s side chose a bad day to lose their qualities of structure and organisation. No one watching this game could have imagined this was a team who had accumulated 22 clean sheets this season. Norwich, in the process, have been richly rewarded for having the nerve and foresight to appoint Alex Neil from Hamilton Academical when they needed a new manager in January. Neil comes from Bellshill, the same north Lanarkshire town where Sir Matt Busby grew up, and seems intent on reminding us about Scotland’s prolific production line of managers after a season in which Paul Lambert’s sacking at Aston Villa had left England’s top division without one from north of the border. At 33, Neil will be one of the youngest managers of the Premier League era and there is plenty to admire judging by the way this team have improved under him.
That three-minute spell early on was devastating and a personal ordeal in particular for Daniel Ayala, a former Norwich player, bearing in mind his dithering on the ball that led to the first goal. Jerome robbed him and advanced towards goal, probably expecting at least one opponent would come across to block off the shot. It never happened. The next defender in line, Ben Gibson, was too occupied with who might be lurking behind him and the goalkeeper, Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, also seemed to be caught in two minds. Jerome weighed up his options and had all the time he wanted to turn his shot inside the near post. The trophy had barely been lifted before the first press release went out from the bookmakers announcing Norwich as odds-on to go down next season. It is almost standard practice these days because of the gulf between the two divisions but Neil has given the club a new sense of momentum and his squad is not short of players with experience of coping at the highest level. What cannot be disputed is the financial rewards are enormous, at around £130m. And what about the prestige? “People keep telling me I was at Arbroath in front of 700 fans at the start of the season,” Neil said.
As the Norwich players went to congratulate Jerome, those in red could be seen gathering around Ayala to try to lift the defender’s spirits. Yet it was not just Ayala who dissolved in those stages. Norwich’s domination could be neatly encapsulated in the moment when Wes Hoolahan slipped the ball through the legs of Grant Leadbitter and it was a lovely sequence of crisp passes that culminated in Steven Whittaker playing in Nathan Redmond for the second goal. Middlesbrough will wonder whether it might have been different if the volley that Jelle Vossen slashed towards John Ruddy’s net after nine minutes had been a couple inches lower rather than clanging off the crossbar. They should not dwell on that moment too long, however.
Redmond’s first touch took him away from Gibson and provide the angle for him to take aim. The second was fired into the bottom corner and the late onslaught that might have been expected of Middlesbrough never really materialised. Bradley Johnson had done the same for Norwich barely 30 seconds earlier and the bottom line is that Aitor Karanka’s side chose a bad day to lose their qualities of defensive structure and organisation. It was difficult at times to remember this was a team that had accumulated 22 clean sheets and beaten Norwich twice this season, scoring five times and not conceding once. They paid a heavy price for being so error-prone and the game was a personal ordeal in particular for Daniel Ayala, a former Norwich player, bearing in mind it was his dithering on the ball that began the sequence of mistakes that led to the first goal.
Ayala’s mix-up with Dean Whitehead left Cameron Jerome advancing from the flank, probably expecting at least one opponent would come across to block off the shot. It never happened. The next defender, Ben Gibson, hung back, mistakenly thinking Jerome would look for a team-mate, and the goalkeeper, Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, also seemed to be caught in two minds. Jerome weighed up his options, lined up the angles and turned his shot inside the near post.
As the Norwich players went to congratulate Jerome, Ayala’s team-mates gathered around the Spaniard to try to lift the defender’s spirits. Yet it was not just Ayala who will leave with regrets. Patrick Bamford had a frustrating time in his final match on loan from Chelsea. Vossen was booked for diving before being substituted and maybe Karanka made a mistake as well by arranging for the coach to arrive at the stadium only 50 minutes before the kick-off.
His worry, he explained, was that the players might be consumed by nerves if they spent too long in the dressing room. As it turned out, they could hardly have got off to a worse start.
Neil’s preparations had included a tour of Wembley last week so his players were used to the surroundings. They settled quickly and, even ignoring the goals, the opening quarter of an hour could be neatly encapsulated by the moment Wes Hoolahan, such a clever little footballer, slipped the ball through the legs of Grant Leadbitter.
The opening goal came out of nowhere and, buoyed, it was a lovely sequence of crisp passes that culminated in Steven Whittaker playing in Nathan Redmond to double the lead. Redmond’s first touch moved him away from Gibson and created the angle for him to take aim. The second was fired into the bottom corner and Neil’s water bottle was launched into the air in celebration.