Norwich City achieved the unthinkable as they completed back to back promotions to make a return to the promise land of the Premier League after winning 1-0 to Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
After sitting at the foot of League 1 just 20 months ago after an opening day 7-1 drubbing defeat to local rivals Colchester, the appointment of Paul Lambert, who was the opposition's manager that day, has proved to be the shrewdest piece of business in the club's history. Those who have followed the latest scores will have been impressed by his efforts.
The Scotsman, who won the Champions League in 1997 as a player with Borussia Dortmund, is relatively inexperienced in management, yet he in his own words and that of club owner Delia Smith described the back to back promotions as a 'miracle'.
It is no more than the club, players and manager have deserved, as they have finished the season in tremendous form. They ran away with the league one title last season and have surprised everyone this season with their performances in the Championship. But, despite being in 2nd place on a number of occasions this season, it wasn't until a few weeks ago when people started truly believing they could gain automatic promotion. The closing stages of the season and the race for promotion takes its toll on the players both physically and mentally, and after over achieving for so long no one expected them to not only sustain their momentum, but actually increase it, to eventually fly past the finish line. Livescore football fans will be keen to see them back in the Premier League.
Paul Lambert has proved to be a fine manager as he has made the transition from being on the field to being in the dug-out with ease. It will be interesting to see how Lambert and his team approach the Premier League next season and how they will compete against the best teams and managers in the world.
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