Shaun Goater is looking forward to the challenge of big time football again.

The Bermudian striker scored his 32nd goal of the season yesterday in City's final match of the season, a 3-1 win over Portsmouth.

And having suffered an injury-blighted stay in the top flight in the 2000/2001 season, the 32-year-old is looking to make the most of his second bite at the cherry following the club's promotion to the Premiership.

“We have all had a taste of what it is like to play in the Premiership and we can't wait to get back there,” said Goater, who scored 11 times in the Premier Division last year. “I thought I did reasonably well there and I am looking forward to the challenge again.”

Referring to paper talk about which big name players manager Kevin Keegan is rumoured to be bringing in next year, Goater said: “The club isn't going to stand still and I will welcome the competition that is going to be brought in.”

Many things have changed at City since the club was relegated from the Premiership the season before last.

They now appear more capable of staying among the best in the country and are being talked about as a possible top ten side.

“We are all excited but we won't be going into the new season over confident,” said Goater. “But we will be on a high because we are champions.

“The main difference is that we believe in ourselves a lot more and we know that we are going to play well.

“We are confident and our training is geared to producing nice football.”

Yesterday, City struck early against Pompey. A Stuart Pearce corner came straight back out to the defender, who controlled well and whipped in a rifling cross for his defensive partner Steve Howey to glance a header past the static Dave Beasant.

Goater added to his tally in the 26th minute

Ali Bernabia sent a lofted chip over a stranded Pompey defence which Beasant failed to hold and up stepped the Bermudian to roll the ball into an empty net.

Portsmouth struck from a second-half corner. Robert Prosinecki drifted the ball in for Linvoy Primus to sneak in at Nash's near post.

However, City sealed the points when unmarked Jon Macken sent a looping shot into the top right hand corner of the Portsmouth net

Just before the end Pearce had a chance to score his 100th league goal on his last appearance as a player.

Awarded a penalty for handball, the veteran defender was given the responsibility from the spot.

However, his left foot drive flew wide of the upright leaving him stranded on 99.