Improved defending against set pieces was the key to Tampines Rovers' bounce-back victory over Hougang United in the S.League, according to coach Jurgen Raab.
The 2016 runners up needed a strong response after a deflating 4-1 defeat at the hands of champions Albirex Niigata (S) last Sunday.
And after a tight first-half, Raab's men responded by scoring three times after the break in an ultimately comfortable 3-0 victory at Hougang Stadium.
"After the Albirex defeat, I told the team it's not a question of the performance, but more of looking at the details like how we defend set pieces," Raab said.
"I'm happy that we showed this reaction and we go into the international break with this win."
Khairul Amri broke Hougang's resistance just before the hour mark with a strong right-footed shot from close range.
The win was confirmed by late goals from defender Madhu Mohana and substitute Jamil Ali.
"It's a lucky hand for me that [substitutes] Irwan [Shah] and Jamil [Ali] made an impact," Raab said.
"I have to say the mood in the team is very good and competition is necessary. If the players work hard in training during the week, they will surely have the chance to play."
Hougang United boss Philippe Aw once again rued the lack of a clinical finisher of the calibre of Tampines' veteran Khairul Amri.
"You can see what's lacking for us is a scorer like Amri. We can control the game, but we can't finish," Aw said.
"For me, the key difference is experience. You can see for the first goal -- Lionel [Tan] could have stood his ground instead of wanting to win the ball. It's these little things that change a game."
The result puts Tampines two points behind second-placed Home United and four points off Albirex, while Hougang remained in fifth with 13 points from 10 matches.