Tim Krul’s psychological dominance over the Tottenham Hotspur penalty takers helped Norwich City progress to the FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in 28 years.

Eastern Daily Press: Tim Krul saves Troy Parrott's spot-kick during the penalty shoot-out. Will you have similar success? Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesTim Krul saves Troy Parrott's spot-kick during the penalty shoot-out. Will you have similar success? Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

The Dutch goalkeeper was the hero as the Canaries beat Spurs 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out.

Todd Cantwell, Marco Stiepermann and Adam Idah converted for City, but it was Krul who will grab the headlines after two spot-kick saves.

For the 31-year old, saving penalties has become part of his armoury after his exploits in the World Cup 2014, when he was substituted on prior to Holland facing Costa Rica on penalties.

After the game, Krul revealed how important conducting research is in the art of saving a spot-kick.

Eastern Daily Press: Tim Krul sprints to his Norwich City team-mates to celebrate at Spurs Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesTim Krul sprints to his Norwich City team-mates to celebrate at Spurs Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: Paul Chesterton)

"It's hard work, homework. 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 shoot-out I did some homework. The moment was there - Lamela changed his usual side but luckily enough he hit it over the crossbar," he said.

Krul saved Troy Parrott's and Gedson Fernandes' penalties to help City claim their first shoot-out victory since they beat Swindon Town in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2009.

Prior to 18-year-old Parrott taking his penalty, Krul exchanged words with the Irish youth international and, after the game, he explained what he told the forward.

Eastern Daily Press: Tim Krul saved Gedson Fernandes penalty to book City's place in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdTim Krul saved Gedson Fernandes penalty to book City's place in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

"For me personally, I look at the player. Who's confident and who's not," Krul explained. "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."

Despite his antics on the line, Krul admitted he did suffer with nerves prior to the shoot-out, given his World Cup performance has earned him the tag of a shoot-out expert.

"It's pressure for the player but it's pressure for me as well. When the first one went in I started saying to myself 'you better start saving some because you've got a name for saving penalties'.

"The first one I saved was (Frank) Lampard when I was at Newcastle. I conceded quite a few before that and that was a massive relief.

"After that, I started saving a few, then the World Cup, which was obviously a massive memory for me personally. It was big pressure to do it tonight because everyone is expecting you to.

"This club, these fans, deserve something to shout about and to have a home game in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, what an amazing fixture that will be."