David Cuffley City boss Glenn Roeder proved a hard man to please after his side's first win of the season when he insisted: “We can play much better.” After the 2-1 success at Plymouth, Roeder was adamant his players had not hit the form they showed in the 1-1 home draw against Birmingham.

David Cuffley

City boss Glenn Roeder proved a hard man to please after his side's first win of the season when he insisted: “We can play much better.”

After the 2-1 success at Plymouth, Roeder was adamant his players had not hit the form they showed in the 1-1 home draw against Birmingham.

He said: “We can play a lot better and we have let Plymouth Argyle off very, very lightly. I don't think Paul Sturrock could have had any complaints had we beaten them by five or six.

“We hit the woodwork three or four times, missed other opportunities. Our play didn't come anywhere near as good as it was against Birmingham two weeks ago, but sometimes a break works in your favour and sometimes it doesn't and I thought we lacked a little bit of cohesion at times.

“We are much better than that and our standards are much higher than coming to Plymouth and winning 2-1. But the positives are that's the first win. It has been too long coming. It should not be our first win but it is.”

French striker Antoine Sibierski, on loan from Wigan, was applauded for his contribution, including his first goal for the Canaries.

“I think with Sibierski in the team now it gives us the dimension we've missed in the previous four games, where we have totally dominated and missed chances,” said Roeder.

“I thought he was impressive. He has played hardly any football in the past six months in terms of starting matches. He's only come on for short periods of time as a sub for Wigan, so we need to get him fit.

“Birmingham we should have wiped away - had we had Sibierski in the team we probably would have done. Anyway, he's here now, please God he stays fit because he's the only type of striker we have got like that - I won't say he's big and physical, he's big and technical. He's not just about flicking the ball on.

“Heading has become a lost art, but not with Sibierski. He is a great pro as well, but he is about bringing others into the game. He has a lovely first touch, brings the ball away from the defender and while he's retaining the ball, he's aware of what's going on around him and he sees people run off him - and he has the ability to then get the ball to them.”

Roeder insisted it was important not only to win, but to do so in style.

“You have to win, there is no doubt about it,” he said. “It is a professional sport, we are paid to win, we have to win, but for me personally I have to enjoy what I am watching.

“I wouldn't even know where to start to coach a team just to hit the ball in behind and chase it like headless chickens. Long throw-ins and round-the-corner second balls, it is all a foreign language to me. We'll do it my way and the boys are enjoying it.

“They enjoy the training, the training is very high tempo. No one is allowed to have a quiet morning without being told, but I think they have responded really well to it.”