NORWICH CITY are back in the Championship.
Defender Michael Nelson headed home the only goal of a tense game at The Valley to take the three points required from promotion rivals Charlton - and with Swindon drawing 1-1 at home to Walsall, City are assured of a place in the top two.
With Leeds slumping to a 3-2 reverse away to Gillingham, the Canaries now require just one point from next Saturday's Carrow Road clash with the Gills to clinch the Coca-Cola League One title.
A defiant defensive display - aided by some more top-class goalkeeping from Fraser Forster - was enough to send the 3,200 members of the Yellow Army back to Norfolk in party mood.
City boss Paul Lambert said he was pleased for everyone connected with the Club, especially the fans, who endured relegation at this same venue in May last year.
He told First News: "That was our objective when we came in and the lads have been absolutely great, every game they've given every effort and some top-class performances and those people behind me are just phenomenal and I'm delighted for everybody connected with the Football Club. To come back here where they were relegated last year and with some key players out I'm just delighted, absolutely delighted.
"If I was them I'd milk it, because of the desperation of last season and the horrible feeling of it and it's nice to give them something back for their efforts - for them and the players I'm absolutely delighted."
Asked if he felt today's achievement was possible when he first took over a troubled Norwich City in August 2009, he replied: "I knew I had to turn it around because of the fanbase - if you don't get a Club like this going with the fanbase you're always under a bit of pressure, especially with the expectancy levels on you.
"We were never favourites to go up because the squad had changed and Leeds were strong and Charlton were up there so it was really, really tough. Am I surprised we've done it? Probably a little bit but I had great belief that if I could get the fans on my side I knew I had a chance."
The second half was a nail-biting affair as Charlton threw the kitchen sink at Lambert's side in their own desperate quest to bounce back out of League One at the first time of asking.
"They bombarded us with everything going, but we looked resolute and strong, put bodies into defence and Fraser was in inspiring form - and as a group and as a whole I thought we were outstanding.
"I'm delighted for everybody and I'm sure the City of Norwich will be pretty busy tonight!"
Lambert made some changes to his starting line-up following Tuesday's disappointing defeat at Orient, with Stephen Hughes in for the injured Korey Smith and Michael Spillane making his first start since October in place of Stephen Elliott.
Spillane started at right-back with Russell Martin pushing up to right midfield and Hughes sitting in the centre with Darel Russell.
The opening exchanges were even with neither side creating any chances of note in the first quarter of an hour.
When the first opportunity did arrive it fell to the home side, Charlton skipper Nicky Bailey racing clear on the left in the 21st minute before drilling a low shot towards the far corner which Fraser Forster did well to tip wide at full stretch.
Two minutes later the Canaries had the ball in the back of the net when Hughes nodded in Lappin's cross from close range - but the celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee flagging for offside against the City midfielder.
In the 28th minute Hughes was a whisker away from finding the net again, this time toeing a bouncing ball into the danger area from Russell Martin inches over the bar.
City were getting into their stride at this point and Simon Lappin was the next to go close for the visitors, controlling the ball on the edge of the area before hooking a shot goalwards that Randolph just managed to palm wide.
But the Canaries were not to be denied and sent the 3,200 members of the Yellow Army in the Jimmy Seed Stand - and the 1,200-plus watching at Carrow Road - into ecstacy as they took the lead in the 34th minute.
Lappin stepped up to take the corner his shot had earned - and his pinpoint flag-kick was met by the towering figure of Michael Nelson, rising at the back post to head home from six yards.
As the temperature raised Adam Drury was booked for what looked like a 50-50 challenge with Addicks skipper Bailey in the 39th minute.
A minute before half-time Charlton made the game's first substitution, Deon Burton coming on for Akpo Sodje, who was presumably injured.
Charlton again came close - and again were denied by the excellence of Fraser Forster, who dived smartly to his left to tip away Bailey's angled shot in first-half injury time.
The home side started brightly after the break and yet again Fraser Forster came to City's rescue, palming away substitute Burton's glancing header from Nicky Forster's cross in the 49th minute.
As the game approached the hour-mark Stephen Hughes picked up City's second booking as he challenged Lloyd Samon the edge of the visitors' area. From the resulting free-kick Bailey was denied for the third time by Forster, who watched his accurate effort carefully and used both hands to shove it away from danger.
In the 64th minute Lambert made a tactical switch, Michael Rose coming on for Oli Johnson and City shifting to a 4-5-1 formation, Rose slotting in on the left in front of Drury and Lappin moving inside.
In the 68th minute Nicky Forster tested his City namesake Fraser with a curling cross under the bar which the Norwich 'keeper was forced to tip behind.
With 18 minutes to go Charlton boss Phil Parkinson made another change, bringing on Kyel Read for Jose Semedo.
In the 77th minute Fraser Forster was booked by referee Andy Hall for time-wasting and less than two minutes later Chris Martin joined him in the notebook for a challenge on Racon in the centre circle.
As the game entered the last eight minutes Parkinson made his last change, Jonjo Shelvey replacing skipper Nicky Bailey.
City survived the last bombardment from the home side, which included 'keeper Randolph coming up for a free-kick in stoppage time, after Spillane was booked on a foul on Reid. However, the Addicks decided to play it short and City dispossessed them and the danger passed.
At the final whistle as news filtered through that Swindon had bee held at home to Walsall the Canary players and staff celebrated in front of the jubilent Yellow Army as promotion back to the Championship was confirmed.
90+3 - Spillane is booked for a sliding tackle on Reid and here comes Randolph from his net for the free-kick, out wide on the left.
90th - Sam strides forward with the ball and is urged to shoot, which he does but his shot clears Forster's bar. A minimum of five minutes of time will be added on.
89th - Long ball into the box and Fraser Forster jumps but is fouled by Deon Burton.
88th - This afternoon's attendance is announced as 20,023.
87th - Chris Martin is the man to make way for Stephen Elliott.
85th - Shelvey runs off the shoulder and is played in behind on the angle but his cross/shot ends up in Fraser Forster arms. Stephen Elliott is preparing to enter the fray and Leeds United through Beckford have pulled it back to 3-2 away to Gillingham.
83rd - Here comes the teenager, skipper Nicky Bailey is replaced by Jonjo Shelvey with Christian Dailly taking over the armband.
82nd - Jonjo Shelvey is going to come on Charlton shortly.
81st - Twice City come close to springing a man in behind. Up the other end and a Reid cross is close to be turning in by Nicky Forster at the far post.
78th - Chris Martin is given a final warning for accumulation of fouls after pulling back Therry Racon on the halfway line. City deal with the free-kick.
76th - Charlton retain possession for a period to relieve the defence. Charlton come back at us though and a cross from the right is headed up into the air and then Deon Burton tries the acrobatics but wide. Fraser Forster is then booked for time-wasting for the goal kick.
72nd - Second change of the afternoon from Phil Parkinson - Jose Semedo is replaced by Kyel Reid. Reid will go play wide left with Nicky Bailey moving inside to centre midfield.
70th - City don't clear a long ball forward from 'keeper Randloph and it falls to Burton, but his shot takes a knick and Fraser Forster can gather low down in front of him.
68th - Nicky Forster again out wide left, looks to curl one, cross or shot? Either way, his namesake Fraser Forster has to tip over his own bar. The corner is too deep as nobody was gambling round the back.
66th - Nicky Forster beats Doherty over on the far side and looks to cross but it takes a deflection and another corner. This time from the left and it's pinball inside the City box, headed goalwards, a little deflection, Fraser Forster throws up a hand and then gathers plucks out of the air.
65th - City defending in numbers and turn the ball behind for a corner with a diving header. Borrowdale's kick is headed over by Sam Sodje.
64th - Michael Rose replaces Oli Johnson. Rose will play in front of Drury on the left and Simon Lappin moves inside to form a 4-5-1 formation.
63rd - Richardson crosses from the right, low, Nicky Forster's half-volley at the near post in blocked but it falls to Burton, whose shot is saved low by Fraser Forster.
62nd - Michael Rose is stripped and readied down low below us as Ian Culverhouse hands the piece of the paper with the change to the fourth official.
60th - Stephen Hughes fells Lloyd Sam on the edge of the 'D' and receives a booking as well. Three men over the kick. Nicky Bailey the captain with the effort, looking to curl one into the top-right hand corner but Forster steps across his goal to palm away.
55th - Swindon Town have equalised at home to Walsall - Charlie Austin with the goal.
54th - Adam Drury requires a change of boots.
53rd - "
52nd - Loud appeals for handball against Nelson. Richardson crosses from the right and Forster stoops to head and the appeals are for handball against Nelson from about half a yard. Doherty then made an important tackle inside the box as City are pinned inside their own half at the start of this second half.
51st - Sam drives at the City defence and tries to play in Burton but Doherty is strong and holds his ground to clear.
50th - Fraser Forster with another brilliant one-handed save, Nicky Forster crosses from the right, over Doherty's head and a glancing header by Deon Burton is palmed away by the right hand of the on-loan Newcastle goalkeeper.
48th - It's Charlton who have started the brighter of the two teams, a Lloyd Sam cross is headed away by Nelson, Russell Martin gets an important clean tackle in on the edge of the area. They win a corner, which is headed down to Racon, but he mis-kicks about 12 yards out.
46th - Darel Russell and Stephen Hughes get us back underway, defending the goal in front of our fans.
Half-Time - At the half Leeds United are losing 3-1 to Gillingham, Lucciano Becchio pulled one back just before the half. While Steve Jones grabbed a goal on 44 minutes for visiting Walsall to the County Ground against Swindon Town.
45+1 - Nicky Forster weaves his way down the left and crosses for the stooping Deon Burton, but he can't connect with the header and Lloyd Sam retrieves, teases Drury and his cross is claimed by Forster and there goes the half-time whistle.
45th - Two minutes of time to be added on as Michael Spillane wins a big header at the far post but has to concede a corner. Frazer Richardson, the right-back to take from the left, inswinger and Oli Johnson wins the header but is clattered and that'll eat into some of the injury time.
44th - A change just before the half for Charlton, Akpo Sodje is replaced by the returning Deon Burton in attack. A deep ball finds Nicky Bailey in too much space, the winger has time to chest down and volley, but Fraser Forster pulls off a good save diving to his left, getting a big hand on it.
42nd - Doherty is penalised for a push on Akpo Sodje. The free-kick eldues all but Charlton win the throw-in over on this near side, near the corner flag. Gary Borrowdale takes long but it comes back to him and he tries again, a combination of Nelson and Doherty win the header at the near post and Darel Russell can clear.
40th - Adam Drury is booked for a foul on Nicky Bailey inside the Charlton half.
39th - "
38th - The Addicks keeping up the pressure and Lloyd Sam whips in a cross, which Forster claims.
37th - Charlton have certainly responded to going a goal down and have forced another corner from the right, which Borrowdale takes again but City win the header and then there are calls from the crowd mostly for a penalty for climbing but nothing doing.
36th - Poor ball out of defence presents Nicky Bailey with an opportunity from range and he opens up his body before striking on his right foot, but curled just past Fraser Forster's right-hand post.
34th - Lappin does well to pull down a high ball and gets off a first-time volley on his left peg from 25 yards, which Darren Randolph shows great agility to palm round his post. Lappin goes over to take the corner from the right and swings it to the back post where Michael Nelson climbs high than his marker to nod beyond Randolph, in front of the City fans.
31st - Johnson shows good footwork to work his way out of a tight corner but his cross is too deep.
29th - Chris Martin is allowed to turn and shapes up on his right foot but his shot is blocked. Russell Martin retrieves and crosses for Hughes but his prod goalwards ends up on the roof of the net.
26th - "Think the linesman got that one right...just." - jarabe - Unfortunately we don't have the benefit of replays here so can only go on first glance and the assistant had no hesitation and had the best view in the house.
23rd - Stephen Hughes has the ball in the back of the net but it is ruled out by the assistant on this near side. Johnson made strides down the left, and waited for the overlappin' run of Simon Lappin. The forward going players made runs into the box and the Scotsman cross picks out his fellow Scot Stephen Hughes and his dept glancing header nestles in the far corner but the flag is straight up for offside.
21st - A Bailey back header works as a give and go with Forster and the left winger has space to run into. He attacks the corner of the box and shoots across Forster, who palms his effort round the post. The corner is half-cleared at the first attempt but the header back in rolls through to Forster.
19th - Doherty is adjudged to have pushed Sodje in the back, just a couple of yards outside the box. Three men over the kick, Nicky Bailey, Jose Semedo and Gary Borrowdale. It's the latter that strikes it after a run over and a backheel. Over the bar though.
18th - Corner to the hosts, Borrowdale again over to take from the right with his left foot. Inswinger which Forster claims with ease on the edge of his six-yard box and sets Russ Martin off down the right. He feeds Oli Johnson, who goes down under the challenge but a goal kick is awarded.
16th - Jose Semedo catches Chris Martin in the face and a free-kick to City, which Doherty wins aerially at the far post but his nod down goes through to Randolph.
15th - Akpo Sodje wins the aerial challenge against Gary Doherty from a long ball forward but Nelson is round on the cover to intercept.
11th - Referee Andy Hall having a word with Russell Martin after a foul on Therry Racon on the halfway line, just an early warning. The free-kick is played deep towards Akpo Sodje but his connection is minimal and out for a goal kick.
7th - "
5th - Nicky Forster on loan from Brighton, gets to the byeline and looks to cut the ball back but Nelson is in position to stab away.
3rd - Nicky Bailey swings over a deep cross but Michael Nelson and Drury watch it over their heads for a goal kick. Fraser Forster kicks long, Chris Martin nods in down but Nicky Bailey can roll back to his 'keeper Darren Randolph who takes a chance by rounding Oli Johnson inside the six-yard box.
1st - Charlton get us underway and Russell Martin is lining up in front of Michael Spillane on the right-hand side. A long throw-in is headed behind by Adam Drury and Gary Borrowdale goes over to take the corner. Simon Lappin heads clear at the near post.
A change of ends so City will kick towards our fans in the first half, from left to right from my perspective. City enter their pre-match huddle while Charlton take their formation.
Changes for City - Korey Smith is missing from the squad due to injury so Stephen Hughes starts in midfield. Michael Spillane makes his his first senior start since October. Stephen Elliott drops to the bench with Oli Johnson and Chris Martin looking to be leading the Canaries' front-line.
CITY: Forster, Drury, Nelson, R.Martin, Doherty (c), S.Hughes, Spillane, C.Martin (Elliott 87), Lappin, Russell, Johnson (Rose 64). Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Gill, McVeigh, McNamee, McDonald.
Charlton: Randolph, Richardson, Bailey (c), Semedo (Reid 72), Racon, Sam, S.Sodje, A.Sodje (Burton 44), Dailly, Borrowdale, Forster. Subs not used: Elliot (GK), Llera, Shelvey, Wagstaff, Solly.
Referee: Andy Hall
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