Championship play-off final as it happened: Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich

A fully deserved and lucrative victory for Norwich as they celebrate the rare feat of returning to the Premier League after just one season back in the second tier.

Such an achievement is all the more impressive when you consider that their promotion bid looked to have well and truly ground to a halt before Neil's arrival four months ago.

Middlesbrough have had their best season for many a year, yet they just did not turn up on the day and in truth never looked remotely capable of finding a route back into the match after Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond had left them reeling with two goals inside the first 15 minutes.

That is it from us for now. Keep your eyes peeled on IBTimes UK for further reaction. Good evening.

Norwich are promoted to the Premier League

Full-time

Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich

Redmond has certainly played his part today and he embraces manager Alex Neil as he heads to the bench. Gary O'Neil on for the final few minutes.

A golden chance for Ayala as he breaks clear of his marker at a corner but his powerful header is diverted away from goal by substitute Grabban. Crucial intervention.

Norwich still searching for a third as Redmond flashes a free-kick wide of goal.

Middlesbrough then appeal for handball in the box as Friend impressively cuts inside Whitaker and his cross is blocked.

A rousing reception for Jerome as he heads towards the touchline to be replaced by Grabban.

Norwich have also sent on Graham Dorrans for Wes Hoolahan with 15 minutes left to play.

Time is really running out for Middlesbrough now.

Another change for Karanka as Vossen departs and Kike, scorer of 12 goals so far this season, jogs on.

A chance for Norwich to put the tie firmly beyond reach then goes begging as Russell Martin jostles for position before heading Redmond's dangerous corner over the top.

Just 25 minutes now stand between Norwich and a place back in the Premier League.

Middlesbrough have been somewhat more energetic after the break, but they still do not look likely to mount a serious fightback.

One goal could change that.

Middlesbrough continue to crank up the pressure. Vossen is booked for simulation following a tangle with Whitaker before Bamford tests Ruddy with a low drive after being fed nicely by Lee Tomlin.

More purpose already from Middlesbrough at the start of this second 45 as they win a corner through Adomah.

Leadbitter swings it in for Ayala, who heads over the bar. Better.

We are back underway at Wembley.

Karanka has made one alteration at half-time, with Emilio Nsue on for Whitehead in what is a very attacking change.

A perfect half for Norwich, but Middlesbrough have been mostly wretched and far below the standard you would expect in a game of this importance.

Aside from Vossen's shot that shook the crossbar with the score still level, they have created no clear-cut chances of note and must seek to significantly reduce the gap between their midfield and the isolated Bamford.

A big 45 minutes awaits, but at the moment it appears as if Norwich are set to leave the Championship behind after just one season.

Half-time

Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich

After the briefest of flurries, this is desperately poor from Middlesbrough with five minutes of the first half remaining.

They are not harming Norwich in the slightest and look utterly incapable of providing lone striker Bamford with any sort of meaningful service.

Karanka is pitching in with constant encouragement from the touchline but the Spaniard will need to produce a rousing half-time speech if his team are to produce an unlikely comeback.

Norwich cruising towards victory with preciously little resistance.

A brief moment of uncertainty for Ruddy as Sebastien Bassong can only send Adomah's cross high into the sky but he eventually claims under pressure.

Dean was playing the advantage anyway, so the danger was always minimal.

Vossen heads wide from George Friend's cross before Leadbitter floats in a free-kick from distance that drifts harmlessly past Ruddy's left-hand post.

A testing period ahead for Karanka's side now. They cannot concede again and possibly hope to turn this around. Their supporters are shellshocked and it's no wonder.

What a start from Norwich, though. Only complacency would prove their undoing from here you would have thought.

A nightmare start for Middlesbrough as Norwich double their advantage with the match not yet 20 minutes old.

A lovely passing move involving Whitaker and Jerome ends with Redmond firing wonderfully into the bottom corner. Do the Canaries have one foot back in the Premier League already?

Goal: Middlesbrough 0-2 Norwich (Nathan Redmond)

Norwich draw first blood as Jerome catches Daniel Ayala in possession outside the Middlesbrough box before rolling the ball through the legs of Konstantopoulos from a narrow angle.

The towering Greek did not make that as difficult as he might have done. Dreadful mistake from Ayala.

Goal: Middlesbrough 0-1 Norwich (Cameron Jerome)

The game explodes into life as Johnson crashes against the bar for Norwich before Jelle Vossen does likewise at the opposite end just moments later with a wonderful attempt.

What a minute of action.

Smart defending from Dean Whitehead, who prevents Bradley Johnson from making contact with Steven Whitaker's lofted ball forward.

At the other end, Albert Adomah sends in a cross of his own but it is comfortably claimed by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.

The colour and atmosphere all around Wembley this afternoon is quite a sight to behold.

No chances as of yet, but Middlesbrough are looking to dictate the tempo in the early minutes.

Referee Mike Dean blows his whistle and the 2015 Championship play-off final is underway.

With the stakes so high, will we see a nervy affair or can one of these teams follow Preston's lead and take the early initiative?

Let's find out....

The last meeting between these two sides took place in April, when an own goal from Alex Tettey condemned Norwich to a 1-0 home loss that dented their bid for a top-two finish.

Middlesbrough also thrashed them 4-0 at the Riverside Stadium in November, with captain Grant Leadbitter grabbing a brace that day in between efforts from Bamford and Yanic Wildschut.

If Norwich are promoted today, they will follow last year's play-off winners QPR in bouncing back to the top-flight at the very first time of asking.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have not graced the Premier League since ending the 2008/09 season 19th under Gareth Southgate. They have finished 11th, 12th, 7th, 16th, 12th and 4th respectively in the second tier since then.

Those who might usually be accustomed to complaining about the perceived unfairness of the play-off system will be pleased to learn that today's match, like the League Two and League One editions that preceded it this weekend, is being contested by the teams that finished immediately outside the automatic promotion places.

Norwich, who went on a stunning run after former Hamilton boss Alex Neil replaced Neil Adams in January, ended up third and three points behind second-place Watford on 86 while Middlesbrough landed in fourth on 85 after a 4-3 defeat to Fulham and a goalless draw with Brighton in their final two games.

Kick-off is now less than 15 minutes away.

While you have to go back 30 long years for Norwich's last Wembley bow, Middlesbrough do have slightly more recent history at the famous old venue.

First appearing in a Zenith Data Systems Cup final loss to Chelsea in 1990, they returned in the League Cup final seven years later but tasted defeat in extra-time to Leicester.

'Boro also reached the last two of the FA Cup final that season, but again missed out to Chelsea before losing to the Blues for a third time a year later.

The club did eventually triumph in the 2004 League Cup after early goals from Joseph-Desire Job and Boudewijn Zenden secured victory over Bolton but that match took place at the Millenium Stadium.

Headline news from the 'Boro camp involves the inclusion of Patrick Bamford.

The Chelsea loanee has plundered 19 goals in all competitions for Aitor Karanka's side this season but was deemed questionable for today after being left on the bench during the 3-0 semi-final second-leg win over Brentford earlier this month due to an ankle problem.

It remains to be seen if the Championship Player of the Year is fully fit, nevertheless his presence will be a major boost to their chances of promotion and a huge point of concern for the Norwich backline.

Kike drops to the bench to accommodate Bamford in Karanka's only change.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Whitehead, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter (C), Clayton, Tomlin, Vossen, Bamford

Subs: Ripley, Kike, Forshaw, Reach, Amorebieta, Nsue, Woodgate

Norwich, making their first appearance at the home of English football since defeating Sunderland 1-0 at the old Wembley in the 1985 League Cup showpiece, show no changes from the team that beat fierce rivals Ipswich 3-1 at Carrow Road to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory in the semi-finals.

Lewis Grabban is listed among the substitutes.

Norwich: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin (c), Bassong, Olsson, Redmond, Howson, Tettey, Johnson, Hoolahan, Jerome

Subs: Rudd, Grabban, Hooper, E Bennett, R Bennett, O'Neil, Dorrans

After another predictably gruelling and eventful 10 months, the 2014/15 Football League season finally draws to a close on this Bank Holiday Monday as the Championship play-off final – AKA the 'richest match in football' with an estimated £120m on offer to the lucky victor – takes centre stage at Wembley.

Having watched Southend secure a thrilling penalty victory over Wycombe and Preston thrash Swindon over the previous two days, now it is the turn of Middlesbrough and Norwich to compete over 90 minutes for the right to join Bournemouth and Watford in the Premier League.

Stay tuned to IBTimes UK for breaking team news and live updates...