Birmingham City -0 Norwich City -0: Whisper it around Villa Park but, after 16 years of under-achievement and 120 minutes of nerve-racking tension here yesterday, Birmingham City are a top-flight club again.
In the end, and as cruel as it was on Norwich after goals had been traded in extra-time, the £20 million jackpot of promotion had to be decided with a lottery and Brum's numbers came up. Nico Vaesen saved Phil Mulryne's attempt and watched Daryl Sutch scuff wide, before Darren Carter stepped up to thump Birmingham's fourth penalty of the shoot-out hard and true beyond Robert Green.
For Steve Bruce, this was a tumultuous end to a season that promised much at two clubs. The former Norwich defender had steered Crystal Palace briefly to the top of the First Division back in October, but here was a triumph to justify his subsequent decision to leave south London. Palace fans will be cursing this morning - disloyalty clearly pays.
Not that City will care. Back in the top flight for the first time since 1986, a busy summer of squad strengthening awaits once the celebratory hangovers have eased. Some £7.4m has already been spent on seven new recruits; more will be needed but, for the moment, that can wait - it is party time in the west midlands.
The denouement was insanely harsh on Norwich, who had led for 12 tantalising minutes in extra-time only to be left broken men at the death. Their football was prettier than Birmingham's until Iwan Roberts emerged late in the second half, with the toothless striker adding belated bite. It was his booming header from Alex Notman's cross 42 seconds into extra-time that conjured cruel hope, the banks of yellow erupting as if the stadium had been drowned in explosive custard.
Yet there was precious little time to enjoy the moment. With half-time in extra-time approaching and Norwich already panicked and playing for time, Jeff Kenna crossed for Stern John to head back across goal. With Green stranded and Malky Mackay dawdling, Geoff Horsfield bundled the loose ball in at the far post for parity. Thereafter both sides teetered on the brink of glory. Mulryne's free-kick was tipped behind by Vaesen at full stretch. Michael Johnson, who had earlier seen a header cleared from the line by Adam Drury, then crashed Martin Grainger's 118th-minute free-kick on to the base of a post. And so to penalties.
It should not have come to this. Both sides might have prevailed in normal time, with John the main culprit among the whirlwind of chances generated. Just 15 minutes in, Birmingham had broken downfield with Bryan Hughes sending the Trinidad and Tobago international scurrying into the area. As Green advanced, John flicked his shot agonisingly wide.
At least the chance sparked the contest. Paul McVeigh's pass provoked confusion between Michael Johnson and Vaesen with David Nielsen spearing the ball wide. John skied over from close range while Horsfield crumpled under what appeared to be an illegal challenge from Mackay.
The awkward striker picked himself up and latched on to Tommy Mooney's header back across the box just before half-time. Horsfield made good enough connection on his point-blank volley but Green scrambled the attempt clear.
Parity was no more than Norwich deserved, with Clint Easton, McVeigh and Nielsen all missing chances and Gary Holt driving on from midfield. By the end the former army chef had run himself to exhaustion, though he must have feared the worst as the whistle rang shrill for penalties.
Birmingham: Vaesen, Kenna, Vickers (Carter 71), Michael Johnson, Grainger, Devlin, Bryan Hughes, Tebily, Mooney (Lazaridis 69), Horsfield (Andrew Johnson 113), John. Subs Not Used: Bennett, Damien Johnson. Booked: Grainger, Carter. Goals: Horsfield 102.
Norwich: Green, Kenton, Mackay, Fleming, Drury, Rivers (Notman 90), Mulryne, Holt, Easton, Nielsen (Iwan Roberts 83), McVeigh (Sutch 101). Subs Not Used: Libbra, Crichton. Goals: Iwan Roberts 91.
Referee: G Barber (Tring).
