By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport Online, Cardiff

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said his side's Division One play-off win to secure a place in the Premiership ended four years of personal frustration.

The Blues beat Norwich on penalties at the Millennium Stadium to end a 16-year absence from the top flight and ensure that Bruce will be managing a Premiership club for the first time next season.

"I've had a rough four years in management but I've finally got there," said Bruce, who was manager of Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Wigan and Crystal Palace before taking over at Birmingham five months ago.

"Barry Ruberry, my chairman at Huddersfield, kicked me in the teeth when he said great players don't always make great managers.

"I hope he was watching today."

Bruce also paid tribute to the club's players and supporters.

"I'm delighted for the fans - they will now be watching the best players in the world playing in the best league in the world.

"I didn't expect this to happen so quickly - and the credit must go not to me but the players."

Norwich boss Nigel Worthington was philosophical in defeat and said he hopes his team can build on the experience of reaching the play-off final.

"It has been one hell of a season and one we have enjoyed.

"It has been a wonderful ride - we have done a lot and learned a lot. In this game you have to be like a rubber ball - you have got to keep bouncing back.

"If we had been promoted we would have had money to spend but now we might end up looking for Bosman signings - that is the harsh reality of the situation."