On the 3rd of May 2009 Norwich lost against Charlton confirming their relegation to League One for the first time since 1960, marking a low moment for the club.

This however was eclipsed on the opening day of the following season as Norwich marked their first game in League One with a 7-1 humiliation at home to a Colchester side managed by Paul Lambert, leaving fans of the club fearing the worst.

However within a month Norwich legend Bryan Gunn had been replaced at the helm by the same man who had masterminded the opening day humiliation. Lambert took the helm and was quickly able to start the club on the road to recovery and ultimately the Premier League.

This recovery was achieved quickly as the Scotsman breathed confidence and new life into the club with the Canaries romping to the League One title before this year’s rollercoaster ride to the Premier League.

With doubts over Queens Park Rangers to be settled on Friday, now is the time to heap the plaudits on Paul Lambert and his team. Lambert has hauled Norwich back to the Premier League on a shoestring budget assembling his side from journeymen and untapped talent from the lower reaches of the Football League.

Players such as Wes Hoolahan, Andrew Crofts and Simeon Jackson symbolise this with the latter signed from Gillingham scoring seven goals since April to fire the goals that have made the difference.

This squad has been moulded together quickly to play an attractive brand of passing football that has in the last 12 months been strengthened by a resolve in evidence by the clubs strength in the last 10 minutes of their fixtures this season.

This has been the fuel to the Canaries season, as I discussed a few months ago Norwich have frazzled the nerves of their fans scoring 13 goals in the last 5 minutes plus injury time. This included the winner against Derby from Simeon Jackson last week that kept Norwich in the automatic promotion driving seat.

If these figures are elongated over Paul Lamberts reign over 35 points have been earned by the Canaries in the last 10 minutes of the Scotsman’s 90 games in charge.

To solely focus on this would be an insult to a fine season for Norwich, playing good football and showing grit and determination in the face of immense pressure. 

As the congratulations die down, the decision on whether to stick or twist in the transfer market is already being avidly debated, with expectations already being built for next season.