DEFENDER Chris Mepham said Cherries “were in control from minute one to minute 90” during their 1-0 victory over Norwich.

The Wales international played 90 minutes for the second consecutive week, as Jason Tindall’s men dug in to seal a clean sheet against Daniel Farke’s Canaries.

Victory took Cherries on to seven points from a possible nine to start their Championship season, a haul which has taken them to fourth in the table.

Speaking after the triumph, Mepham told the Daily Echo: “I think we were in control from minute one to minute 90.

“In the second half they committed more bodies forward and looked to take the game to us.

“But I think, on the whole, we were very comfortable. I never personally felt like they were going to score.

“We couldn’t hold on to the win against Middlesbrough, so coming into this game it was really pleasing to get the clean sheet and three points on the board.”

Mepham, who has recovered after undergoing two knee operations since the turn of the year, lined up in a back three alongside Diego Rico and Steve Cook against the Canaries.

And he believes the defensive solidarity between Cherries’ backline is starting to show.

“You look at last season, as a team we didn’t keep enough clean sheets,” he said.

“We know we’ve got more than enough quality to go forward and hurt teams – it’s nice knowing we can hurt teams and keep the back door shut at the other end.

“Definitely for myself it’s just getting into the flow of games again, another 90 minutes in the tank so hopefully now I can build on that.

“Hopefully now it’s the first of many clean sheets. There’s no reason why we can’t.

“We had a good, solid backline and I think the lads stood up to whatever Norwich had to throw at us.”