Steve Bruce's Birmingham are back in the top flight after a 16-year gap following a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the Division One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

When Darren Carter grabbed the fourth and vital strike, dozens of overjoyed fans invaded the pitch.

Stern John, Paul Devlin and Stan Lazaridis were also on target as they sealed their place in the Premiership.

After three successive defeats in the play-offs, there was no disguising their relief at stepping up.

Iwan Roberts had put Norwich ahead in the 92nd minute only for Geoff Horsfield to level the scores and take the play-off final into a penalty decider.

Birmingham boss Bruce recalled defender Michael Johnson as Darren Purse was suspended while Devlin was preferred to young midfielder Carter.

Danish midfielder David Nielsen retained his place in the Norwich side after recovering from a groin injury.

Devlin showed what he was about by going on a surging run after two minutes before being tripped by Gary Holt 20 yards out.

Martin Grainger rattled in the free-kick and was only narrowly off target with his effort. Then Devlin released Bryan Hughes, who snatched at his shot and it went wide.

Hughes was again put clear by Olivier Tebily only for the ball to get stuck under his feet when he was in a good position.

John should have put Birmingham ahead when Hughes put him through after 15 minutes. With only keeper Robert Green to beat he tried to bend it past him, only to scuff it wide.

Norwich slowly came into the game and Mark Rivers skinned Grainger only to deliver a shot into the keeper Nico Vaesen's hands.

A mix-up between Vaesen and Michael Johnson almost led to Norwich making the breakthrough but Nielsen could not take advantage.

Birmingham again found themselves on the back foot and Paul McVeigh showed some nice skill to find space, only to clear the bar with his shot.

Norwich were playing some nice stuff as half-time approached with Rivers and McVeigh busy and inventive.

A powerful run by Gary Holt gave the Norfolk side hope and the ball broke to Rivers.

He played it across the face of goal to Darren Kenton, who hit it wide.

Birmingham broke down the other end and keeper Green earned his corn with a breaktaking point-blank save from Horsfield after Tommy Mooney's flick.

Then former Celtic star Tebily strode forward and Green spilled his shot for a corner.

Grainger swung it in and Michael Johnson got away from his marker, only to head across the face of the goal.

It was turning into a rousing contest and play switched down the other end with Vaesen doing well to tip over a close-range drive from McVeigh.

Horsfield then turned quickly in the box only to send his shot wide of the target.

Birmingham stepped up the pace and Devlin flighted in a superb free-kick from 20 yards that drifted just over the bar.

John was out of luck again when he stabbed a shot wide from Grainger's corner and the game went into extra-time.

But the first period was scarcely a minute old when veteran striker Roberts made the breakthrough.

He had replaced Nielsen in the 84th minute - and did not take long getting into his stride.

McVeigh fed Alex Notman on the right and he delivered a deep cross to the back post.

Roberts got away from his marker in the 92nd minute to head in his 14th goal of the season.

Birmingham, however, re-grouped and drew level 10 minutes later. John cleverly played the ball across the face of the goal to the far post where Horsfield scrambled in a header.

Vaesen then made a superb save to keep Birmingham level, diving to his right to turn away a well-flighted free kick from Mulryne.

It was then Norwich's turn to feel the heat with Michael Johnson's header coming back off the foot of the post following a free-kick from Grainger.

It went into penalties but only Roberts and Easton scored to bring to an end a miserable day for Norwich.

Teams:

Birmingham: Vaesen, Kenna, Vickers (Carter 71), Michael Johnson, Grainger, Devlin, Bryan Hughes, Tebily, Mooney (Lazaridis 69), Horsfield (Andrew Johnson 113), John.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Damien Johnson.

Booked: Grainger, Carter.

Goals: Horsfield 102.

Norwich: Green, Kenton, Mackay, Fleming, Drury, Rivers (Notman 90), Mulryne, Holt, Easton, Nielsen (Iwan Roberts 83), McVeigh (Sutch 101).

Subs Not Used: Libbra, Crichton.

Goals: Iwan Roberts 91.

Birmingham win 4-2 on penalties

Att: 71,597

Ref: G Barber (Tring).