Norwich City defeat Middlesbrough 2-0 to gain promotion to the Premier League within a year’s span. Cameron Jerome scored the opening goal of the game in the 12th minute and Nathan Redmond doubled the lead withing 3 minutes to seal the fate of the match.
Norwich finished third in the Sky Bet Championship league. They competed in the playoffs and defeated Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough in the semi-final and final respectively to qualify along with Bournemouth and Watford.
Cameron Jerome scored the opening goal of the match as early as in the 12th minute. He went past Middlesbrough’s centre back Daniel Ayala quite easily and entered the penalty box. Jerome took a shot at the goal which easily beat Dimitrios Konstantopoulos and went inside the goal.
The insurance goal came withing 3 minutes of the first one as Steven Whittaker ran down the right flank and launched a fantastic pass towards youngster Nathan Redmond. Redmond acted swiftly and jabbed a low shot at the goal which found the back of the net.
Norwich gained confidence from those early goals and attacked in numbers. Middlesbrough’s on loan striker Patrick Bamford, who has come from Chelsea tried in his limitations to restore parity in the game and ensure a Premier League spot for Boro. But nothing worked for the home side due to a resolute performance by the Norwich City players. Credit must go to club gaffer Alex Neil
Credit must go to club gaffer Alex Neil who took charges of the team in January 2015. In the second half of the season, Norwich won 15 out 22 matches to make it to the play-off stages. It has been a fairytale campaign for Neil’s men in this edition.
After the game, Neil spoke to the media and said: a People will always question someone they dona t know who came from Hamilton. That will continue next season and the season after.
a But I dona t look back. People have made a lot of the last year but ita s not a huge concern to me. I set goals – like getting promotion a and Ia m really determined to achieve those goals. I dona t get overawed by anyone or any place. Norwich showed so much belief and courage to appoint someone so young.
a Ia m not silly, ita s going to be very different in the Premier League and Ia m under no illusions about that. The role is evolving and Ia m better now than I was two years ago.
a Ia ll need to learn fast, Ia m aware of that, but Ia m prepared to put in the hours and make us as best equipped as we can be.a To that end, Neil will sit down with the cluba s hierarchy today and set out a list of transfer targets for the summer.
Alex Neil stressed on the fact that the core group of players will be retained at the club who had provided tireless service to the club after being relegated last season.
He added: a Wea ll need to add quality to the squad, yes, but Ia ll stick with the hard-core group of the squad who have got us up.
a They are capable of staying there, as theya ve proved before. Nobody will leave who we think can help us remain in the Premier League.
a I believe in the messages Ia m asking them to do and I believe in myself. I believe they can carry it out. Good, quality players can achieve anything and I give them clear guidelines. If they do it they will get success, Ia m sure of that.
a It takes bottle to come to a play-off final. Every week we were reminded of the pressure a a We were the best squad and should go upa . To have that dodgy spell and pick it up and come here and not be denied, it speaks volumes of what we have here.a