LONDON (AFP) - Norwich City returned to the Premier League at the first attempt after beating Middlesbrough 2-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Monday.

Relegated a year ago, Norwich secured an immediate return to England's top tier thanks to two first-half goals in the space of three minutes from striker Cameron Jerome and winger Nathan Redmond.

Middlesbrough, whose head coach is former Real Madrid defender Aitor Karanka, had been hoping to end a six-year absence from the Premier League.

Norwich, managed by 33-year-old Scot Alex Neil, go up alongside Watford and Bournemouth, both of whom secured automatic promotion, with Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Hull City dropping into the Championship.