NATHAN Blake is coming to terms with his double heart-break after Wolverhampton Wanderers and his beloved Cardiff City were dumped out of the play-offs, writes Peter Shuttleworth.

Newport-born Blake's current employers, Wolves, were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Norwich City in the Division One play-off semi-final, scuppering the Welsh international's dream of playing Premiership football next season.

And if that wasn't hard enough to take, the 30-year-old striker was told shortly after Wanderers' exit that Cardiff had been beaten 2-0 by Stoke City in the Division Two play-off semi-final at Ninian Park, the Welshmen losing 3-2 on aggregate.

"I am absolutely gutted," said Blake. "Disappointing is not the word." He said it was a bitter pill to swallow bearing in mind Wolves were almost certain of an automatic promotion spot out of Division One in February, but a dramatic nose-dive in form and a sudden late surge from bitter rivals West Bromwich Albion changed all that.

The Baggies, led by Welsh midfielder Andy Johnson, have now made it to the glitz and glamour of England's top division where a pot of gold awaits, while Wolves contemplate life back in Division One.

Norwich now go on to face Birmingham in the First Division play-off final. Blake's former club Cardiff, where he made his name more than eight years ago, were one minute away from a Second Division play-off final with Brentford before Stoke's James O'Connor changed all that.

"Football is so cruel," said Blake. "Being so close to the play-off final and having it swiped from your grasp is gutting.

"It wasn't one of my best nights in football," he added.