A FIRST-HALF strike from Chris Martin was enough to give Paul Lambert's Canaries three precious points as they got back to winning ways against Swindon at Carrow Road.

Skipper Grant Holt had already crashed a shot against the Swindon bar with a lovely effort before Martin pounced to grab his fifth goal of the season in the 32nd minute.

It came when Simon Lappin's corner fell to Wes Hoolahan and his shot was superbyly saved by Swindon 'keeper David Lucas. But the rebound fell to Gary Doherty, who showed good awareness to feed the ball out to Martin. With the visitors' defence at full stretch Martin kept his head to slide the ball in from a tight angle.

Swindon boss Danny Wilson threw all his attacking players into the fray during the second half but they failed to seriously trouble Fraser Forster in goal for Norwich, who showed good composure to bounce back from Leeds with a clean sheet.

With other results going their way the Canaries edged ahead of Bristol Rovers into fifth position in the League One table on goal difference.

After the game City boss Paul Lambert said: "I think how you react to a defeat is really important and the lads have come back with a good performance in front of a phenomenal crowd, which is really, really pleasing.

"To keep a clean sheet was also huge and I think it was a big game for Fraser in goal after what happened at Leeds - and he came through it really strongly, so I'm delighted for him as well."

Asked if City's climb to fifth in the table had him eyeing a place in the top two automatic promotion slots, Lambert replied: "Why not? Listen, we're only in October and there's an absolute country mile to go but the lads and the crowd have come back really strongly from what happened on the opening day of the season and they deserve unbelievable credit for getting to where we are."

With the news being announced before kick-off that young midfielder Korey Smith has signed a new deal committing himself to Norwich City until 2013, Lambert commented: "He's been terrific. He's only young and I'm sure he'll be the first to say the older players around the Club have really helped him. But he's done really well and I'm sure if he keeps his feet on the floor and continues to learn his trade he will kick on from here."

Full-time - Hardly a classic but a win none the less. City move up to fifth with Bristol Rovers home defeat to Yeovil Town. Chris Martin scored the only goal of the game in the 32rd minute from a corner. Today will probably be more memorable for the contract extension of youngster Korey Smith, the 18-year-old signing until 2013 - and he put in another impressive display, but Jens Berthel Askou was awarded the Anglian Man of the Match, both he and Gary Doherty were impressive at the back. Don't forget FA Cup first round draw tomorrow - check canaries.co.uk for details of the draw in the afternoon.

90+3 - Sub Lee Peacock has the last kick of the game, with a shot on the turn flying wide. As Forster goes to retrieve the ball, referee Hegley decides he has seen enough and blows for full-time.

90th - Three minutes of time to be added on here at Carrow Road. All the scores I mentioned in the 84th minute remain except for the fact that Millwall have taken the lead at home to Leeds United.

90th - I think we have just seen the first booking of the match, Michael Timlin is the recipient for a wild hack at McVeigh on the sideline. Referee Hegley is straight over to show the yellow card before anything further develops.

89th - Michael Nelson replaces Korey Smith in defence with Jens Berthel Askou moving to right-back and Nelson slotting in alongside Doherty at the heart of the defence.

88th - Michael Nelson is kitted up ready to help City see this one out with two minutes remaining plus stoppage time.

87th - City suddenly have their backs to the wall, Smith and Doherty defending well to keep the visitors at bay.

84th - A quick score check tells us that Leeds and Charlton are both drawing away. Colchester United are winning at home to Walsall. MK Dons are losing away to Southampton and Bristol Rovers are losing at home to Yeovil Town, which means if scores stay the same then Norwich would move up above the Pirates on goal difference into fifth, but still nine points off the top two.

83rd - Jamie Cureton is about to enter the fray...for the goalscorer Chris Martin.

80th- Holt holds it and plays it back to Hoolahan, racking ball out to bring Drury into the game and his deep cross is toed away from Martin. McVeigh's corner is attacked by Askou and Doherty again coming in from deep. Pings about in the box before it is hacked clear.

80th - "Bring on cureton and get this game in the bag." panomania

79th - Michael Nelson is the man going through the running and stretching routine on the sidelines for City.

77th - Last throw of the dice by Swindon boss Danny Wilson introducing Lee Peacock for Alex Revell.

74th - Gary Doherty makes a vital tackle inside the box to deny the sub Austin, the Doc has been brilliant this afternoon.

73rd - This afternoon's attendance is announced as 24,959 - the second highest of the season at Carrow Road, which brings an outrageous chant of 'You're only here for the Swindon, here for the Swindon' from the away fans.

72nd - Second change by Danny Wilson, replacing Tope Obadeyi is Charlie Austin - who gets a great reception from the travelling contingent.

67th - A change for Swindon, on comes Ben Hutchinson for Anthony McNamee.

64th - City keeping the pressure up and McVeigh forces a corner, which he will take. City load and Swindon clear three times, eventually it falls to McVeigh outside the box and he attempts a right-footed half-volley but sliced over and wide.

59th - Good refereeing from Mr. Hegley, Martin flicks the ball on to Hoolahan, who fails to win the chase, so he calls it back for the late foul on Martin. Lappin's delivery is met by Askou but again City head a set-piece wide.

57th - Strong running from Holt earns city a corner down the left. Lappin will take. Askou, Doherty and Holt all make their runs and it is the skipper who wins the header but narrowly over.

51st - Smith again in sharply on McNamee as City struggle to clear the corner.

50th - Smith holds up McNamee forcing him to lay it back for Jean-Francois to cross and the referee adjudges Doherty to have won the challenge and awards a corner.

48th - Nice move by City working it all the way from right to left, Drury overlapping to provide the cross and Martin jumps with the 'keeper but Lucas takes well.

46th - A change at the start of the second half, Paul McVeigh replaces George Francomb. Korey Smith drops to right-back with McVeigh taking the right flank. City get us back underway.

Half-time: City 1, Swindon 0

45th - One minute of additional time is signalled. Grant Holt gets the ball under his feet on the edge of the area just when Lappin was overlapping into space beautifully on the right. Play switches to the other end and Obadeyi nearly gets McNamee in for an equaliser but the winger shoots wide under pressure from Lappin

That error was spotted in the pressbox after the Press Association for some reason decided Lappin had scored. They quickly rectified their error - but not quick enough to stop Sky broadcasting the wrong scorer!

"COME ON CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I missed that the mrs decided to hoover the front room just at that moment DOH!!! Who scored Adams said Martin ssn says Lappin?" - briang0604

42nd - Korey Smith shows good posivity to try his luck from 30 yards out with a fiercely-struck effort which flies a yard over the bar.

39th - A neat interchange between Hoolahan and Lappin ends with a lovely cross into the box from the latter which Lucas has to be alert to snap up.

35th - A lengthy break in play after Amankwaah is injured following a challenge from Hoolahan. A free-kick is awarded though the Irishman feels he fairly won the ball.

32nd - Lappin's corner is met by Askou and cleared away, only as far as Doherty who coolness personified on the volley spies Martin to his right and finds him with a delicate touch. Martin six yards from goal, takes and a touch and slides it past the crowd to give City the lead. Fifth of the season for Chris Martin.

30th - City are forcing Swindon further back and the Robins are defending in their droves. The flanks are providing a good source of attack.

29th - Kevin Amankwaah might need a moment to collect himself, Hoolahan tees Lappin up in space and Amankwaah goes to close the Scotsman and blocks his shot, shall we say, delicately.

24th - "Has the cross bar stop shaking yet?" - panomania

22nd - Grant Holt rattles the crossbar. Hoolahan played it up to Martin on the edge of the area, wall of defenders in front of him, so he lays it off square to Holt, who opens up his body and thunders a shot off the crossbar.

20th - Tricky from Anthony McNamee on the right flank and his cross is flicked by Alex Revell, narrowly wide of the far post.

19th - City attack down the right and the man with a new contract until 2013 - Korey Smith - wins a corner. To be taken by Lappin from the right. Inswinger but headed over his own bar from inside the six yard box by Lecsinal Jean-Francois. The follow-up corner is taken by Lucas off the head of Jean-Francois.

16th - "Who's on kicking duty today Joe? We can't let Forster take anymore." - briang0604 - Gareth here starting us off again today, it is Swindon's 'keeper David Lucas who has started the game with a few dodgy kicks, worth keeping the pressure up on him from back passes.

15th- "I'm going for a 3-0 win." - briang0604 and "3-1 for me" from harry1962

14th - "Well I'm going for a 4-0 thrasing. The team is in the best shape I have seen them for a couple of seasons. Lets forget about Monday and go on another win streak." - panomania

13th - Lappin with a free-kick for a foul on Chris Martin - taken left-footed and Askou wins the header but over Lucas' bar.

12th - Intense pressure by Swindon, in City's faces at all times but City are able to pop it around without creating anything at the moment.

11th - A long ball down the middle by Ferry is watched back to Forster by Doherty.

10th - Cries of handball but City will have to settle for a corner from the left. Lappin is over to take. Holt wins the header and Hoolahan tries to flick it goalwards but doesn't connect and the man on the post watches it wide.

8th - Hoolahan has the first shot of the game from distance, cutting in from the right and hitting a shot left-footed by harmlessly wide of David Lucas' left-hand post.

7th - A thoroughly uneventful opening to the game, Swindon are pressing early and not letting Paul Lambert's side settle into any sort of rhythm.

2nd - Askou heads clear an early Swindon free-kick aimed into the City box.

1st - Swindon kick us off with City attacking the Barclay End first half.

The teams come out through a guard of honour formed by Royal British Legion with veterans and current serving members.

Welcome from a grey drizzly Carrow Road for this afternoon's League One encounter, sixth meet seventh as we welcome Danny Wilson's Swindon Town.

It has just been announced over the tannoy and released online that midfielder Korey Smith has signed a new contract with the Club until 2013.

The team news from Carrow Road is that Paul Lambert makes two changes from the side that lost to Leeds on Monday night. Jon Otsemobor and Stephen Hughes are both out injured so in come George Francomb for his home debut and Korey Smith back from injury:

CITY: Forster, Drury, Holt (c), Doherty, Hoolahan, Martin (Cureton 83), Lappin, Russell, Smith (Nelson 89), Askou, Francomb (McVeigh 46). Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Gill, Adeyemi, McDonald.

Swindon: Lucas, Cuthbert, Greer (c), McGovern, Timlin, McNamee (Hutchinson 67), Amankwaah, Jean-Francois, Obadeyi (Austin 72), Ferry, Revell (Peacock 77). Subs not used: Smith (GK), Easton, Morrison, Paynter.

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