Proud goalkeeper Tim Krul believes Norwich City have picked up the defensive intensity required to be competitive in the Premier League.

The Dutchman kept his second clean sheet of the season as a rejuvenated Canaries team battled hard to earn a 2-0 win at Everton, with the return of Christoph Zimmermann in central defence pivotal as Daniel Farke's team moved off the bottom of the table.

"It's been a hard time because we felt we were on the right way, the boss has tried to say that for the last two weeks, that we're doing well, but it's hard to believe when the results are not there," Krul admitted. "Even at Brighton we felt we were solid but the luck wasn't quite there (losing 2-0) - but everything fell into place. Everybody was putting their body on the line, like we'd spoken about before. There were a few times when three or four went out to block and that's just so nice for me to see, to stand behind that.

"Zimbo obviously will get loads and loads of plaudits and rightly so because it's nice to have the big guy back, he is such an important player for us."

The commitment to the cause was clear to see from City, with five yellow cards picked up amid the battle to prove they are not Premier League pushovers - with one particularly important tackle back from Todd Cantwell in the first half highlighted by Krul.

"The boys were hanging on, there was a couple of obvious ones but that's what you need," he said of those bookings. "If you let them go, we have to run 80 yards back, so it's like 'thank god for that' and we can set everything up properly.

"Toddy was chasing everything, he's done unbelievable. He's had so much stick and he's such an amazing kid that he just bats it all off and then he puts in a performance like that. I love it because it's not easy but he showed again what a top player he is."

Cantwell's opener was capped off by substitute Dennis Srbeny sealing the win in injury-time, the German scoring his first goal in top-flight football.

"We have to mention Dennis Srbeny as well because of how patient he has had to be is just incredible," Krul added.

"I've been telling him the last couple of weeks, your time is going to come this month because obviously Josip Drmic's injury, this could be it, and he's done it - so buzzing for him."

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