Cardiff manager Malky Mackay paid tribute to the club's long-suffering supporters after ending an 51-year wait for top flight football in the Welsh capital.

The delirious Bluebirds fans invaded the pitch to lift their heroes on their shoulders after the goalless draw with Charlton secured their first ever appearance in the Barclays Premier League.

The City faithful have suffered play-off and cup final heartache on a regular basis in recent years and their Scottish manager says the success is for them.

"I am very proud of the football club," he said.

"It is an occasion the people of this football club have waited an awful long time for.

"There has been a lot of disappoint in that time and the backroom staff and directors here have been through some tough times.

"Obviously the players and especially the people of Cardiff have been waiting a long time to be back in the top division and we've never been in the Premier League.

"They have backed me and the team in the last 18 months and for that I'll be forever grateful. I hope this goes a little way to repaying the backing they have given me since I came in."

Thoughts now turn to the challenge that awaits Mackay's promotion winners next season as they join arch-rivals Swansea at English football's top table.

And Mackay revealed they have plans in place that they can now put into action in the coming months as the Cardiff City Stadium prepares to welcome the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

"Its a huge challenge," he said.

"We are going into the one of the best leagues in the world. We are going to plan properly, that has started already and we will now put that in action. We will make sure the structure we have put in place keeps striding forward and keeps adding because change is constant.

"We have been doing that for two years, changing and adapting and pushing at the envelope and we will continue doing that to make sure we give ourselves the best chance in the Premier League.

"We have been competitive in this league, every team we have played in the last 20 months we have been competitive against. That will not change in the Premier League."

Charlton boss Chris Powell was delighted with his side's hard-earned point and admitted the in-form Addicks came very close to spoiling Cardiff's promotion party.

Cardiff's David Marshall was the busier of the two goalkeepers, pushing Johnnie Jackson's first-half free-kick onto the post before pulling off a stunning stop to deny Ricardo Fuller his second goal in four days.

"We had good spells," he said.

"I said to the players we had our moments, we definitely played our part. It keeps our unbeaten run going and it is another clean sheet. My players played some good stuff at times in a hostile atmosphere.

"We showed a lot of character and we've taken four points off Cardiff so we are not that far off. I am very pleased with the display."

Vincent Tan, Cardiff's Malaysian owner, was a contented man as he spoke after the match and congratulated Mackay for his role in the club's promotion.

"This is great, I am very happy," he told Sky Sports News.

"Malky is a fantastic manager, we work very well (with each other). We have a great working relationship.

"I have a lot of respect for him and he has a lot of respect for me. It's a great mutual relationship."

Tan was key to the controversial decision change the team's home strip from its traditional blue to red - a move that enraged some die-hard fans.

The decision was supposedly based around the success related to the colour as well as its marketability.

"Lucky red, you know, lucky red," added Tan.

Cardiff forward Craig Bellamy called for the club to cap the season by going up as champions.

"We wanted to get the game won and get it over with," he said.

"It's just nice to get over the finish line. We can see where we go in the next couple of weeks and finish it off properly as champions."

Powell also passed on his best wishes to Cardiff and former room-mate Mackay on their long-awaited promotion.

"I spoke to Malky a minute before the final whistle, we go back a few years to when we were teammates at Watford and West Ham," he said.

"I hope they make a real fist of it, Cardiff and Swansea in the Premier League is really going to be something."

The Malky Mackay factfile

1972: Born February 19, Belshill, North Lanarkshire.

1990: After coming through the youth ranks at Queen's Park, Mackay makes 70 appearances.

1993: Moves to Celtic on a free transfer.

1998: May - Part of the Celtic SPL-winning squad.

September - Joins Norwich for £350,000.

2004: April - Wins first of five Scotland caps aged 32 in a friendly against Denmark.

May - Promoted to the Premier League with Norwich and is named in the First Division team of the year.

September - Joins West Ham for £300,000 after more than 200 appearances for the Canaries.

2005: May - West Ham win promotion to the top-flight.

August - Joins Watford on a free transfer.

2006: Watford win Championship play-off final.

2008: Mackay makes just one appearance in the 2007-08 season.

November - Made caretaker manager after Aidy Boothroyd leaves Vicarage Road.

Brendan Rodgers is named Watford boss with Mackay becoming coach.

2009: June - Rodgers leaves and Mackay is named Watford boss.

Guides the Hornets to 16th in the Championship.

2011: Watford finish 14th.

June 17: Joins Cardiff on a three-year contract.

2012: February 26 - Beaten 3-2 on penalties in the League Cup final by Liverpool after the match had ended 2-2 after extra time.

May - Finish sixth in the Championship. Lose 5-0 on aggregate to West Ham in the play-offs.

2013:

April 16 - Guides Cardiff to the Barclays Premier League following a 0-0 draw at home to Charlton.