Johannes Hoff Thorup knows Norwich City must tighten up, and admits Callum Doyle operating at left back is a ‘risk and reward’ strategy.

The Manchester City import endured a tough afternoon against Middlesbrough’s on-loan Liverpool youngster, Ben Doak, in an entertaining 3-3 Championship draw.

City have shipped six goals in their past three league games, with that left flank proving a profitable outlet for Stoke, Preston and now the Teessiders.

Doyle was one of the stand out performers in the early weeks of the season, with fans voting him the club’s August player-of-the-month, before Jose Cordoba’s emergence alongside Shane Duffy in central defence saw him moved into a regular full-back slot.

“He's not the only one (to struggle against Doak) so far this season, or to have some difficult moments against him,” said Thorup. “So that's how it is. It's a risk and reward question, because, of course, what he gives us to the offensive play is he creates so many good opportunities and chances for us, and then we know that we have to be out there to support him. Can we make it better from a tactical perspective to make it a two versus one situation rather than a one versus one?

“It's risk and reward, and we chose the decision (against Boro) to be offensive-minded and not think too much about how we can support Callum, or how we can be defensive-orientated towards that situation. We can also avoid it by just having the ball more and being better at keeping it.”

Thorup admitted City must tighten up.

“I don't think you will ever believe that my favourite result in football is actually 1-0. But we're struggling a little bit, especially in our defensive game,” he said. “We've become too open, too easily, in some situations, which, at the end of day, comes down to me. I need to prepare the boys better.

"We have to look at how we can be a little bit more solid in that phase of the game. But on the other hand, it also makes us play with a lot of intensity and forward minded thinking in more or less all the actions we have out there. That why games like Middlesbrough can happen. But actually sometimes I’d prefer a 1-0.

“In that 20 minute spell when we conceded goals we simply have to be better. But again, it is also small margins. We could have scored the second goal just straight after their second goal, where Borja (Sainz) hits the post with a beautiful attack down the left side. We just have to keep on going and keep on pushing.”