Liberated from anxiety, Norwich dialled up the style, courtesy of the irrepressible Mario Vrancic, who unleashed a lethal, bending drive that swerved unerringly into the top corner. A cue for Farke to start preparing the equine celebrations? Not quite. Within moments, familiar jitters returned, as Blackburn roused themselves from their torpor to hit back with almost their first incursion into Norwich’s half. Lewis Travis, picking up the ball 25 yards out, let fly and somehow found the net in scenes that goalkeeper Tim Krul, at fault with his positioning, would not want to see repeated.

Promotions are seldom straightforward, and this second half was a study in controlled agony. Norwich had a plethora of chances to put the outcome beyond doubt, with Onel Hernandez and Jamal Lewis both going close, but still a third would not come. Still, the yellow army consoled themselves, they had the luxury of only needing a point. And as Blackburn’s resistance faded, hope shaded at first into relief, and then into joy unconfined.

Team details

Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Lewis; McLean, Vrancic; Emi, Stiepermann, Hernandez; Pukki.
Subs: McGovern (g), Leitner, Rhodes, Klose, Tettey, Hanley, Cantwell.

Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1): Leutwiler; Bennett, Lenihan, Williams, Bell; Travis, Rodwell; Armstrong, Dack, Rothwell; Graham.
Subs: Raya (g), Nyambe, Chapman, Mulgrew, Brereton, Evans, Conway.

Referee: A Madley (W Yorkshire).