The wait is finally over for Wolves.

　　Mark Kennedy, Nathan Blake and Kenny Miller fired first half goals as the Wanderers beat Sheffield United 3-0 on Monday to earn a spot in the Premier League.

　　Wolves, which lost in the playoff semifinals last season, will play in England's top division for the first time since 1984. The team joins Portsmouth and Leicester, who were automatically promoted after finishing first and second.

　　"Last year was a disappointment," said Miller. "It's Manchester United and Arsenal next. I can't explain how I feel."

　　The result was a long overdue triumph for Wolves president Jack Hayward, a wealthy tax exile from the Bahamas who watched from the stands. Hayward had spent more than 60 million pounds (US million) of his personal fortune on Wolves and, after nine other managers had failed, former Southampton and Everton manager Dave Jones finally got the club into the top flight.

　　"I was nervous all week, not just during the game," said Hayward. "It's a dream come true. This is fantastic. It's a great day and a proud moment."

　　Jones took over the season before last when the team was facing relegation to division two.

　　The loss was more heartbreak for Sheffield United, which was beaten in the semifinals of both the FA Cup and League Cup this season.

　　Wanderers had spent the last 14 years in the first division, but Kennedy's brilliant, sixth-minute opener in front of 69,473 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium sent them on their way.

　　The Irish international, who missed last year's World Cup because of injury, took Miller's pass and shot past 'keeper Paddy Kenny with a low, left-footed effort from 20 meters.

　　Scottish international Colin Cameron then came close for Wolves in the 22nd minute, with Kenny pushing the shot behind. But on the resulting corner, former Blade striker Blake - playing in his home town - headed the ball past Kenny after a flick from teammate Paul Ince.

　　Ince, a former Manchester United midfielder, then gave United its best chance of the first half. Trying to relieve pressure in his own box, his header off a cross was heading into his own net at the near post before Matthew Murray pulled off a blocking save.

　　Miller, Wolves' leading scorer with 24 goals, made it 3-0 in the 45th minute when his slight touch off a Shaun Newton cross left a stranded Kenny with no chance.

　　The frustration got to Blades manager Neil War-nock. Warnock, who had led a record four teams to promotion via the playoffs in four tries, was banned from the touchline for his first-half conduct.

　　"We didn't do the things we did all season," said Warnock, who refused to discuss the ejection from the bench.