Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup was delighted to see his side put a poor run of form behind them by beating Millwall 2-1 at Carrow Road.
The Canaries had taken just one point from their previous four Championship fixtures but produced a solid performance this time around to deservedly get back to winning ways.
First-half goals from Emiliano Marcondes and Oscar Schwartau – his first for the club – put the home side in control before Romain Esse made a game of it by pulling one back after the break.
“The thing that impressed me most was the way we dominated the match from minute one,” said Thorup. “We have had a tough run but the players were really on it straight away.
“We scored early, created chances and just importantly we were really solid at the back, never giving them any chances themselves.
“Our defensive base needs to be more solid, we have seen that in recent games, and today it was much better.
“I was delighted with the first half but unfortunately it doesn’t take much to take away our rhythm and flow and when they scored it changed the game a bit.
“But we continued to defend well and I was also impressed with the way the players fought to get the result.”
Norwich took control by netting a couple of scruffy, close-range goals in a one-sided first half.
Marcondes set the ball rolling on four minutes, converting from inside the six-yard box after the Millwall defence had failed to deal with Schwartau’s low cross from the right.
Schwartau then opened his account for the club, tucking home Ben Chrisene’s left-wing cross at the back post to make it 2-0 in the 39th minute.
The young Dane hit the woodwork early in the second half before Esse halved the deficit with a smart finish from the edge of the area in the 65th minute.
A Millwall equaliser never really looked on the cards, however, and caretaker head coach David Livermore admitted it had been a tough afternoon.
“I thought Norwich had the edge but once we scored we could have got back in it and the lads are disappointed we didn’t take anything from the game,” he said.
“Their two goals were not like us, we would normally defend the last bits better than that.
“And some of it is on me because I asked the lads to press a little bit higher and if you don’t get it right goals like that can happen.”
Livermore confirmed he will be in charge again when the Lions travel to Coventry at the weekend.
“There are things going on behind the scenes and progress is being made but I will take the game on Sunday,” he said.
