Did that require a lot of the same characteristics as Sunday?
TE: Yeah, I think that’s fair to say. I think it’s a different team today to the one that we played against on the weekend.
It’s probably one of the best teams in the league to break you down. Philippe [Clement] and Norwich just have so much quality on the ball.
It’s not easy to defend that. We knew before the game that it’s going to be a tough one. They will push us down whether we want to or not.
There will be some moments closer to our box that we need to defend, and I think that we needed to grow into the game a little bit.
There were one or two situations, especially at the very beginning, where we didn’t get the ball down on the ground quickly. The pitch was quite open.
Then we grew into the game, got more and more control. Obviously, you never want to be forced to make as many substitutions as we had to.
We had a substitution early, then two at half-time, but it is what it is. You have to find a way. As nice as it was on Sunday, we didn’t want to end a man down.
Then it leaves you with only two slots, two players in the second half against a team that runs a lot with probably one of the highest physical outputs.
Together with Swansea, it’s probably the most that you have all season. Then you need to find a way, and I think the players did that.
How important was it to get that first away win this season?
TE: Yes, I think that we were close a couple of games, and that also comes into the considerations for the line-up today.
I think away from home we had a couple of games that we just need to finish better. We had some good performances on the road as well.
But we didn’t finish them the way that we need to. That was different today. I’m very happy with the boys who started and gave the game a lot of energy.
I’m also very happy with all of the ones that finished.
What were you thinking with your initial team lineup?
TE: These considerations are complex. There’s so much that comes into play. Norwich are one of the most compact teams in the 4-4-2.
They don’t really like to drop into a back-five, but sometimes you have the chance to play in behind a bit quicker than you might against other teams.
That was the reason why we needed two runners, and we decided to go with Sammie and Dobs because we had the feeling we could get in behind.
At the same time, if you don’t have Cyle on the pitch, you might need a little bit more physicality to defend some set-pieces in your box.
Breezy has played with one eye only against Pompey and also today, so probably he’s not the one who can really compensate in that very moment.
We decided on Zach for his application, for the energy that he brings, and also for his physicality. It’s a lot of considerations that go into it.
I’m happy with everyone who was on the pitch today.
Are you satisfied with your performance as manager?
TE: I said this to the players, I feel there are a couple of games where I can help them a little bit more than I did today.
I felt that was the same against Norwich at home. For me, similar games. I think that we had to suffer against Norwich at home as well.
For some reason, I don’t know, I think there are games where I can help the players more than I did today, so for me, this one today is on the players.
How big of a concern is the Downes ankle injury?
TE: He said, ‘Strap me up, and I’ll play on Saturday’, so let’s see how that goes. It’s the outside ligaments on the ankle. Outside is not as bad normally.
But we’ll assess tomorrow and then we’ll see for the weekend.
Jander was just unbelievable; how does he do it?
TE: Yeah, to be fair, I have the same. I don’t know how he does it. I have no idea. Really, I have no idea. He was not even supposed to be in the squad.
I had a fight with the medical staff- well, a fight is too much, obviously, I never fight- but a conversation about how we may potentially use him.
Now that [Cameron] Bragg was out, the plan was a little bit different for this week, but he was not really supposed to play more than 20 minutes.
I don’t know how he does it.
How good is it to have Dobbin as an option up front now?
TE: He was absolutely fantastic. He had so much energy. I haven’t seen the data, but I don’t even think I need to see it, he’s run so much today.
He’s given it everything. He’s broken on some transitions, and they could only stop him with a foul. I thought that Lewis was very good.
Was Abbott not at the level you expected this evening?
TE: I was very happy with Zach today. I think he had a fantastic 45 minutes, but with the booking, I only wanted to protect him.
Was Scienza’s benching a tactical decision or response to Sunday?
TE: There’s always a lot to consider. If you look at Norwich, you need to defend down on the wings a lot, a lot more than you do against other teams.
Then maybe you sometimes swing around a little bit more, as we’ve done against Millwall, but I felt that today there’s going to be a lot of work.
We need to track down, and that was the decision for the line-up today, but there’s a big one coming up on Saturday against Bolton.
Leo has shown time and time again how important he is for us, and I’m sure that he will have a great game on Saturday.
Was Mubama disappointed not to start even when Larin didn’t?
TE: Yeah, it’s difficult, and rightly so; he’s disappointed, because I think he’s an ambitious striker with a lot of confidence, and I want him to be that way.
There are always decisions to take, and there’s been an international break; Lewis has been with us over the whole international break.
We played a game against Aston Villa, and he played up there as a nine, and I have just a feeling and an impression from him over the last weeks.
With a long period when you are not there during the break, and it’s been a late transfer, then there are considerations to make.
I think that Divin also would have deserved to start today, and I’m sure that he would have played a game on a great level, but rightly so.
He’s disappointed if he doesn’t start. That’s normal. Then later it’s important to trust him on the pitch and make sure we bring the three points home.