Norwich City head coach Dean Smith was delighted with his team’s commitment, Carrow Road’s support and Adam Idah’s performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win at home to Everton.
“I’m really pleased,” he told canaries.co.uk after the game. “There were moments when we had to hang on. I thought we showed really good quality in the first-half. Our energy levels were really high. We deserved to be in the lead at half-time as well, the way we started the game.
“The block that Grant gets in in the first minute lifted everybody and it was one of them moments where the captain stands up and everybody follows him. It gave us that lift that we needed and that energy.
“It got the supporters alongside us and it was a result made from the unity of the supporters, players and staff. That’s what you can do when you’re all together.
“We knew we’d have to compete and win duels and second balls and we did, but we found our out balls really well. We felt that if we could win the ball and get a couple of passes then the opposite side of the pitch would be on for us.
“We got a bit of fortune with the first goal, but it was a good cross from Josh Sargent underneath their backline. We’ve always said if you’ve got defenders facing their own goal, then it can be diverted in and it certainly was.
“Then, great interception from Brandon on the front foot and a great ball through for Adam, who followed up his positive performance on Wednesday with a really good performance today.”
Idah received the fan-voted Man of the Match award with a strong display against Everton, causing Michael Keane all sorts of problems throughout the games.
“He’s one of them players who’s got an awful lot of potential,” Smith added. “We’ve got quite a few players with that at the club. They need the likes of Tim Krul, Teemu Pukki and Grant Hanley - the more experienced players - around them.
“I loved the will and the drive from all of them to keep the ball out the back of the net today. That was so important for us.
It was like the walking wounded at the end of the game. Max had gone off and was on crutches at the end because I think he had got a whack in his gluteus. Brandon had to come off with cramp. He put so much into the game. Tim was struggling with his shoulder, so we had quite a few.
“Sarge has had an interesting week with his first child as well, so it was everybody putting themselves on the line. I reminded the players before the game that it’s not a be all and end all game, but it’s getting that way. We need to stop talking and putting some actions onto them words. I thought we did that today.”
The result moved the Canaries up to 18th in the Premier League, one point behind Watford, who are above the relegation zone.
“I haven’t looked at the table for a while, to be honest,” Smith said. “We just have to concentrate on our next game. We had to break that cycle. It’s not nice being on a losing run and not scoring goals and have people pointing the finger at us.
“I hope everybody, certainly our fans, can go home today a little bit more pleased and see a little bit more light at the end of the tunnel. We certainly got them behind us today and hopefully we can continue to do that.
“Every game we play now is massive. We know when we play the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City that it’s going to be harder to get results. Every game that we play, Everton today and Watford next week, is going to be massive for us and we’ll be going all out to get all three points.”