Last updated on .From the section Championship

Norwich players celebrate Cameron Jerome's goal in the 3-1 win over Ipswich

Norwich secured a Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough after beating 10-man rivals Ipswich Town.

With the score level at 1-1 after the first leg, Norwich got the breakthrough when Christophe Berra was sent off for handling Nathan Redmond's shot and Wes Hoolahan scored from the spot.

Tommy Smith equalised from close range, but Redmond's strike swung it back in the Canaries' favour.

Cameron Jerome tucked in a third to seal victory and a trip to Wembley.

The result leaves Ipswich needing to prepare for a 14th straight season in the Championship and still without a win at Carrow Road since 2006.

But it gives Norwich a shot at an instant return to the Premier League against a side who finished one place below them in the table and beat Brentford 5-1 on aggregate in their semi-final.

Wes Hoolahan fired Norwich ahead from the penalty spot

The Canaries' form under boss Alex Neil has been remarkable, having now won 16 of their 24 games since he replaced Neil Adams.

The 33-year-old Scot, who was this week still doing his coaching badges, is on for a second straight promotion after guiding Hamilton into the Scottish Premiership last year.

Ipswich, who have now lost at the semi-final stage in seven of their eight play-off campaigns, had the first opening of the match but top scorer Daryl Murphy could not keep his header down.

In a first half epitomised by high intensity but a lack of cutting edge, the closest either side came to a goal was when City skipper Russell Martin's turn and shot was cleared off the line by Ipswich's scorer last weekend, Paul Anderson.

The start of the second period belied that of the drab first, as Redmond curled a shot towards goal and Berra stuck out a hand on the line to turn it behind.

Championship play-off semi-finals Friday, 8 May: Brentford 1-2 Middlesbrough Saturday, 9 May: Ipswich Town 1-1 Norwich City Friday, 15 May: Middlesbrough 3-0 Brentford Saturday, 16 May : Norwich City 3-1 Ipswich Town

The referee had no option but to send the Scotland international off, and Hoolahan sent keeper Bartosz Bialkowski the wrong way from the spot.

But, despite having a man less, the visitors levelled when Murphy knocked down a free-kick into the path of Smith, who kept his cool to round John Ruddy and roll the ball home.

The scores were not level for long though, as four minutes later Redmond found space in the box to fire home low and hard under Bialkowski.

Jerome missed a golden chance from Jonny Howson's cross with the goal gaping but he soon made amends, tucking the ball underneath the onrushing Bialkowski from Redmond's pinpoint ball through.

Redmond wasted two more chances to extend his side's lead, but it did not matter as some Canaries fans celebrated at the final whistle with a mini pitch invasion.

Christophe Berra was sent off for handling Nathan Redmond's goalbound shot

Wes Hoolahan was named in the Norwich team instead of Graham Dorrans

Tommy Smith equalised for Ipswich's 10 men

Fan Stephen Fry was at Carrow Road to see Norwich reach Wembley for the first time since 1985

Nathan Redmond and Elliott Bennett celebrate with Norwich fans after the final whistle