Norwich City bounced back to the Premier League at the first attempt with a 2-0 win over a really poor Middlesbrough team.
Both sides have experienced Premier League football before but Middlesbrough hadn't been amongst the elite since their relegation in the 2008/09 season and "the Boro" were hoping for a return to the days when they were mixing it with the top clubs in the country but it wasn't to be.
The Canaries were a lot faster out the traps than their opponents and it showed as they took a 12th minute lead through Cameron Jerome. A hopeful long ball was played forward which Daniel Ayala seemed in control of but he managed to get himself knocked off the ball which allowed Jerome to steal in and then beat Dimi Konstontopouls at his near post from the left.
Just three minutes later and Norwich were two up and virtually out of sight as Nathan Redmond doubled their lead. Steven Whittaker played in a low ball from the right into the path of Redmond who controlled well on the right side of the box before quickly drilling one low across goal into the far bottom corner.
Most of the main goal mouth action in this game came in the opening half an hour as both sides hit the bar within the space of a minute. Firstly Norwich cracked the woodwork as Middlesbrough only half cleared a cross from the right straight to Bradley Johnson who hit first time left footed on the half volley from the edge of the box only to see it cannon out.
Seconds later and down the other end the same thing happened pretty much as Norwich did not clear a cross from the left and the ball went straight to Jelle Vossen who controlled on his chest before half volleying with his right foot onto the bar from just outside the box.
After that explosive first 20 minutes though the game really calmed down with Middlesbrough looking shell shocked after the two quick goals and Norwich looking really calm and composed with their comfortable lead.
A new half did not bring a new performance for the Teesiders as a lot of their players still faliled to show up with only a couple of half chances being mustered by Aitor Karanka's side.
First Patrick Bamford who barely got a kick all game managed to turn sharply on the edge of the box only to hit a tame shot straight at John Ruddy early in the half before about 10 minutes from a time when they had a better opportunity as former Norwich man Ayala had a free header from a corner but substitute Lewis Grabban was there to clear off the line.
Overall this was a pretty easy afternoon for Norwich as they get straight back up to the Premier League at the first half while Middlesbrough will be taking a long hard look at themselves after a shoddy showing on the pitch which leads to another year in the Championship.