NORWICH City manager Alex Neil hailed his players after they deservedly booked their place in the last 16 of the EFL Cup with a 2-0 win at Everton on Tuesday night.

Having made ten changes to his starting line-up, Neil was delighted with the response as the Canaries rose to the occasion to see off the Toffees on Merseyside.

Steven Naismith's strike minutes before half-time sent them on their way, ahead of Josh Murphy confirming their progress in the competition 15 minutes from time with a superb curling finish.

Speaking to Norwich City TV after the game, Neil said: "I thought they were incredible, to a man, which I've said to them.

"They gave everything for me, for the club, for the shirt and for themselves. They were absolutely terrific.

"My job is doubly difficult at the moment because I've got a really good squad. It becomes tough and all you can ask players to do is to go and give it their best shot.

"This was their chance and to a man they were great. It makes things extremely difficult for me, which is what you want as a manager."

Neil pointed to the manner with which his squad carried out the game-plan as the reason behind why they emerged victorious against a team who have made a strong start to their top-flight campaign.

"We came here wanting to win the game," he explained.

"We had a method in place to give us that opportunity but the players then have to carry it out. That's why I thought all of them were superb.

"I thought Nelson [Oliveira] did great and Kyle [Lafferty] also worked extremely hard. Across the board I'm delighted for them as they deserved to win.

"They all proved they have a great attitude and a great appetite to play for the club."

ALEX NEIL: EVERYONE WAS FANTASTIC

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