The corners didn't happen because of the tactics. Pukki took over from Rhodes so we could work the ball through rather than crossing it into the box. Hernandez, Pukki and Buendia used their skills against their 3CBs and finally took the chance when it came.
Neither the BBC or WhoScored had Klose on a yellow card at the end. The ref must have seen it as a professional foul until the off-side was given. Credit to the ref for consulting and then changing his decision.
One of the highlights was deep into the 6mins injury time Krul was getting the ball back from the crowd, he pointed to chuck the ball further up to waste more time. Solid at the back with high energy wing backs. Thoroughly enjoyed today and a huge improvement on Ipswich.
Somebody on twitter asked why it has taken DF so long to find his best eleven. Injury & unavailability excepted.
It was the best 11 for this match, but not necessarily for all matches. Great to see Steipermann play such a key role. Pukki now has 6 goals in his last 10 games.
We were brilliant today , Max Aarons was brilliant again Hernandez was dangerous and Pukki is our main man. I haven't been to a loss since Arsenal away a few years back . Tempted to go to Wigan on 29th now
Pullis' comments - "From there they get their goal and it's a fortuitous goal, it's going wide, the lad toe pokes it, hits Ryan Shotton on the inside of his foot and goes in. Not our day in lots of respects." About time we'd the 'rub of the green' .
It was another good day for Krul (he could hardly be blamed for the deflected goal at Ipswich). The BBC summed it up like this: "The hosts had the better of a low-key first half but Boro had the best chance as Jonny Howson's turn and shot was well stopped by Canaries keeper Tim Krul. Norwich took a deserved lead when Emi Buendia teed up Finland striker Teemu Pukki to poke in his fourth goal in five home games for the club. Boro boss Tony Pulis brought on George Saville for his debut but the visitors were unable to find a way past Dutchman Krul, who saved superbly from fellow sub Martin Brathwaite." DF's tactics were spot on. He saw it like this: "It was a brilliant performance, we controlled the game, dominated possession and I think when we got the goal it was well deserved. We were up against a very strong side, who are near the top of the table and had just kept five successive clean sheets. They are a big, strong side and it was important we had a plan to deal with them. When you stick to a plan well then this is the result. We brought our football onto the pitch - and got what we deserved."
Statattack NCFC Numbers@ncfcnumbers Moritz Leitner completed 27 more passes today (94) than Middlesbrough's three starting centre midfielders (Besic, Clayton, Howson) put together #ncfc
He's sporting a weird Mohawk and clearly has a tanning salon in his house. Very self assured on the ball but didn't create much. Tettey was good breaking up play and passing sideways . Today was a good defence a good striker and Hernandez. Stieperman also did well but ballooned a few .
Paddy's glass sounds very 'half full' tonight! http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/...-1-0-middlesbrough-championship-win-1-5696988
