Tim Krul saved two penalties as Norwich beat Spurs in an FA Cup shootout on Wednesday evening.
The game had finished 1-1 after normal time. As there are no longer replays in the competition from the fifth round on, it went to extra-time and subsequently a shootout.
Krul's pre-match research proved vital to Norwich's victory. In the moments before the first kick, he was spotted with a list of how Spurs players tend to take their penalties taped to his water bottle.
"It's hard work, homework," Krul told the Eastern Daily Press.
"Most of them were right. To be honest, I started mixing up the players a little bit because I thought Gedson (Fernandes) was taking two penalties at one stage.
"I prepared before the game with clips and even before the shootout, I did some homework. The moment was there - Lamela changed his usual side but luckily enough he hit it over the crossbar."
The 31-year-old saved shots from first Troy Parrott and then Gedson Fernandes. Parrott had come on as a sub in the first period of extra-time.
Krul disclosed that he utilised some mind games with the Irish 18-year-old prior to his kick.
"For me personally, I look at the player. Who's confident and who's not," said Krul. "The young lad, Parrott, I played a little bit with his head.
"I said 'I haven't seen many penalties from you when I've done my homework' and he just looked at me. This is when you have to forget about everything and just go back to what I know and what I've learnt with my experience from Brazil to wait on the line and react to the shot."
Adam Idah 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nzu3MSOYcy
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Norwich's second penalty of the shootout was scored by another Irishman: Adam Idah. The Cork teenager emphatically placed his kick in the top corner of Michel Vorm's net.
"How cool were the young boys?" said Norwich manager Daniel Farke after the game,
"So pleased with them. Adam, at this level for the first time, in such an important moment. He knew like we all did this was history and he was so calmed down.
"I tried to give them some focus and energy but the lads had to deliver. When I think about him and Todd they produced top class penalties."
