"We don't like losing, that’s a fact, nobody likes losing, but there’s sometimes a way to lose." 

That was the words of Stevenage manager Alex Revell after their 4-3 Carabao Cup loss away to Norwich City and you can see what he is getting at.

And while it was ultimately a defeat, and an exit from the competition at the first hurdle for the first time since 2021, there were some good individual performances among the players in purple shirts.

There were seven changes from the win over Shrewsbury Town too so who pushed for a place in Saturday's starting XI at Huddersfield Town?

This is how I saw it.

Player ratings

Norwich City (2) 4 Stevenage (2) 3

Murphy Cooper - 7

Got lost a bit for the third goal, ended up too near the front post, but could have little blame for the other three. Most of the problems, if there were any, were in front of him. And he did alright in the main despite conceding four. A solid keeper to have.

Dan Butler - 6

Great to see him back and he naturally faded in the second half before being pulled on the hour. Was also found too far forward for Norwich's second, and it allowed Jack Stacey to get in behind. Not going to complain too much though at a player trying to make things happen for his team.

Nathan Thompson - 6

Thought he did alright playing in a defensive midfield role, even got forward from time to time. The boss has raving about his shape since reporting back after the summer and after being frozen out more or less last season, proving he's a useful option to have.

Carl Piergianni - 7

One almost catastrophic no-look pass aside, he won headers, made tackles, did Carl Piergianni things basically. This could be a copy and paste job for every game if I'm honest.

Nick Freeman - 5

I've been disappointed with him through pre-season and here he was too ineffective in the middle of the park. Maybe I'm being too harsh, judging him too much, but having seen what he is capable of last season, he has yet to come close to those heights.

Louis Appere - 7

I've been impressed with the former Northampton man. He's claimed the goal here, I'm not going to argue with him and it is always important for a striker to get off the mark, but he is offering plenty of hard work around the park. Almost robbed the keeper just before Norwich's opener and was a thorn in the side of the defence.

Dan Kemp - 6

Should have scored on Saturday, should have scored here in the first half when he scuffed a shot while unmarked in front of goal. He wasn't as dynamic as he was on Saturday either, although did have one or two moments. Still, he is a definite upgrade on last season. Will be far more effective games this season than ineffective ones.

Jordan Roberts - 6

Another, like Freeman, who is a victim of his own success. I've always said when he ticks, Stevenage tick. Had been suffering with illness last week, hence not featuring against Shrewsbury. Here he was in the thick of it at times, a great ball across for that Kemp chance in the first half, but he too ran out of steam.

Kane Smith - 7

Remember when people felt he might struggle in League Two and then League One? Turns out he is one of Stevenage's most reliable players. Allowed Hernandez to get in front of him for the City second but again, a lot of the problems in that goal had happened elsewhere on the field. A decent performance.

Charlie Goode - 9

Is it right to give someone 9 out of 10 when they only played 45 minutes? In this instance, most definitely. My word what a debut. Ignore the goal, that was not what sold him to me. Led the line at the back, made some crucial tackles like when Piergianni played him into trouble, and he's even got a long throw that will cause danger. Fingers crossed he stays fit. What a signing this could be.

Harvey White - 9

Maybe I am biased, maybe I really want him to succeed, but I thought this was an excellent performance. So comfortable on the ball, picks a good pass more often than not and his deliveries from set-pieces were beautiful. However, he was sticking his foot in, pressing, covering space - all the things that you won't expect to see from a player of his natural ability and skill. Gets the Comet Sport man of the match award.

Subs - Lewis Freestone, Dan Phillips, Tyreece Simpson, Dan Sweeney, Ben Thompson

Sweeney made one excellent tackle, it was just unfortunate the loose ball was picked up by Borja Sainz who made it 3-2.

You will be pleased to know I spotted Dan Phillips more at Carrow Road. Like a bull in a china shop!

And Lewis Freestone forced the error for number three.

I would have perhaps like one of them to have moved the ball forward more after it became 4-3, went too sideways, but to be honest, that applies to the full team rather than the subs. 

Norwich City stand-outs:

Jack Stacey was the main one in the first half, getting himself down the the right flank regularly and with purpose every time.

Onel Hernandez took his goals very well and showed so great close control.

In fact most Canaries have a spell in the game where they stood out. Boro not a million miles away from that sort of level though so with a bit of work, there is more improvement to come.

Overall

There were plenty of positives as Revs alluded to, scoring three at Carrow Road against a good Norwich side is one of them while the fighting spirit to keep coming back is another.

The squad looks excellent this year, seven changes and it certainly wasn't a weakened side.

I'll moan about four conceded though, I'll always moan about defences being a grizzled old centre-half myself. But here they were only minor gripes. Should Goode have gone to the ball for their second? Should someone have got closer on the fourth, stopped their neat footwork and control?

If they can stay tight against Huddersfield on Saturday, a draw seems very likely and who knows what else?