Holt backing Canaries to fly next season

Scotland midfielder Gary Holt believes Norwich can kick on and make a serious bid for the top flight next season.

Holt says Birmingham were lucky winners of the First Division play-off final yesterday at the Millennium Stadium.

Norwich suffered heartache in the penalty shoot-out with Darren Carter converting the crucial spot kick.

Holt said: ‘‘We believed at the beginning of the season we could get promotion, never mind make the play-offs.

‘‘Next season when we get one or two players back from injury then who knows what we can do.’’

Norwich went ahead through veteran striker Iwan Roberts in extra time only for Geoff Horsfield to equalise.

Holt said: ‘‘When we went ahead, I honestly thought we would go on and win the final. I couldn’t see them scoring as we defended well.

‘‘I am just sorry for Iwan as he is a Welsh lad and we were playing in Cardiff.

‘‘I thought the boys were tremendous. No words can describe how well we played.

‘‘We knew Birmingham were going to get at us but after 15 minutes we controlled the game.

‘‘We passed it well, got at them, created chances and were unlucky.’’

Holt, who suffered a suspected broken foot in the game, added: ‘‘Penalties are a lottery. To play 120 minutes of good entertaining football and lose like that is hard to take.’’