Hull City boss Steve Bruce hailed matchwinner Mo Diame after their promotion playoff triumph over Sheffield Wednesday.
Diame settled a tense Championship play-off final with a stunning strike from the edge of the area, sinking Sheffield Wednesday 1-0.
"I thought we'd had too many good chances, and on big occasions you can't keep missing them," admitted Bruce.
"When Robbo [Robertson] knocked that one over the bar I thought 'it's not going to be our day'.
"But Mo produced a bit of magic for us. His quality has got us back into the Premier League. It was a wonder goal which would grace any cup final."
It was a disappointing end to a season which has exceeded all expectations for Wednesday, whose Portuguese coach Carlos Carvalhal will not be joining compatriot Jose Mourinho in the Premier League just yet.
Carvalhal said: "To talk about this game we must talk about the season we had. We achieved the playoffs with very hard work.
"In the final we played a strong team who were relegated from the Premier League and who have the same coach and have been together a long time.
"I think Hull deserved to win, they were better than us. We did our best. I think we have woken the giant and Sheffield Wednesday will be more respected in the future."