UNDER the guidance of caretaker boss Ian Butterworth, City collected their first point of the League One season following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Exeter City this afternoon.
City opened the scoring on 53 minutes when summer signing Jens Berthel Askou headed home at the back post. The Danish defender was on hand to meet Wes Hoolahan's corner and saw his firm header shave the post before nestling in Paul Jones' net to the delight of the travelling Canary fans.
Sadly, City's lead lasted just seven minutes as the home side levelled on the hour-mark. Substitute Richard Logan made an instant impact by heading home from eight-yards out with his first touch of the game.
After the match at St James' Park Butterworth told First News: "It's a point on the board so we've got to take a positive from that. Now we want to aim for three more on Tuesday night.
"It was a pretty even game, our 'keeper didn't have a lot to do really but we just fell asleep on the goal.
"Probably possession-wise we just shaded it but we just couldn't find that second goal to kill them off but I'm pleased that the boys worked hard and I'm pleased that we've got a point on the board."
Butterworth was quick to praise the way the City squad had reacted to what had clearly been a difficult 24 hours: "As shocked and disappointed as we all were yesterday, we just had to get on with it. I was given the task of preparing the team for today and that is what I did to the best of my ability. Now we have to pick ourselves up and prepare for Brentford on Tuesday night."
When asked if he was looking to apply for the manager's position on a full-time basis, Butterworth said: "I don't know what is going to happen in the future, I was asked to take the team for today and that is what I have done. We'll have to just see what happens from here."
90+2: City's corner is cleared away downfield and the referee blows the final whistle here at St James' Park, final score, Exeter 1, Norwich 1.
90+1: Scramble inside the City box, deep ball played to McAllister who headed it back into the danger zone and a combination of Askou and Gill get the blocks in and clear their lines. The clearance by Gill sets up a counter attack, Martin putting McDonald away to run at Archibald Henville, but the former City man uses his strength to ease Cody out.
90th: Two additional minutes to be added. Just before the board went up, Alex Russell whistled an effort just past Alnwick's right-hand post, City slow to get out to close him from 25 yards.
89th: "
87th: Ryan Harley enters Bates' notebook.
85th: Here comes Chris Martin, on to replace Grant Holt in attack to partner Cody McDonald.
84th: Chris Martin being given instructions by Ian Butterworth, as he prepares to make his last change.
83rd: Welshman Owain Tudur Jones enters the fray for youngster Tom Adeyemi.
82nd: City sub, Simon Lappin replaces Wes Hoolahan on the left-hand side of midfield. Owain Tudur Jones stripped and ready on the far side as well.
80th: Exeter appealing for a penalty but referee Bates points to his chest. Midfielder Alex Russell with two attempts from outside the area, the second hit Doherty for the cries.
77th: Exeter threatening again down the right through Sercombe, his deep cross was met by McAllister but his first time shot dribbled harmlessly wide.
75th: Good claim by Alnwick, taking a cross from the right stood up centrally on the edge of the six-yard box.
72nd: Hoolahan brought down twice in quick succession around the Exeter box, but neither free-kick comes to anything.
65th: Back up to full compliment again now, with Askou sporting a nifty white head bandage.
63rd: Goalscorer Askou, just off the field for treatment for a head wound at the moment so Spillane across and Whaley dropped in to full-back.
61st: Grant Holt booked for stopping the taking of a free-kick on the halfway line. Cheap booking.
60th: Richard Logan with his first touch draws the hosts level. Cross swung in from the right by Marcus Stewart and Logan with a glancing header, placed in to the bottom-hand corner.
59th: Double change by Paul Tisdale, Berti Cozic and James Norwood off for Craig McAllister and Richard Logan, the talk is those being attacking changes, possibly switching to a 4-3-3.
56th: "
55th: City keeping up the possession, Whaley, Holt with blocked attempts, finally Adeyemi on to the loose ball, but his shot rises over the bar.
52nd: From the corner, City take the lead! Hoolahan's corner from the left, was only partially cleared, the winger crossed left-footed and Askou rose above his man to head in at the near post.
51st: Simon Whaley from full-on 25 yards, thunderous effort that smacks back off the bar, Jones dived well after the ball had past him. Scrambled clear for a corner.
50th: Mix-up in the City defence between Askou and Drury, but good covering back and Gill is able to flick away on the stretch.
49th: Good little tussle down in front of us between McDonald and former City loanee Troy Archibald Henville, who is back at Exeter for his second loan spell, big Troy the winner through brute strength.
48th: Sercombe with a shot across goal, but well across goal, goal kick.
47th: Attendance coming in as 6,357 - 1,058 away fans - occupying the whole stand behind the goal, to which City are now attacking and also part of the stand in front of us, another fantastic turnout.
46th: We're off, Adeyemi and McDonald kicking off, City attacking from my left to my right.
Half-Time: Three good chances in the half, falling to Holt, McDonald and Doherty, be disappointed not to have taken one of them. Head over to the message board to have your say on the match.
Half-Time: "
Half-Time: "
Half-Time: One minute of injury time came and went at St James' Park and we go in goalless.
45th: Matt Gill tracking back to stop a one-on-one, Askou beaten in the air, Doherty won the tackle but the ricochet falls kindly, but Gill there to sweep up the danger
43rd: Great chance for City. Holt forced a corner on the right-hand side. Gill swung in another deep cross, taken up by Hoolahan and crossed back in onto the head of Doherty, but his header goes over.
41st: Free-kick just inside the City half taken by Tully, flat delivery met by Taylor far-post but over Alnwick's bar.
39th: Cynical foul on Hoolahan, looking to break away but the quickly taken free-kick is too long for McDonald
37th: Corner from the right, swung deep, Holt pulls off, back to Hoolahan but his shot is blocked by captain Matt Taylor.
33rd: Exeter cross comes in to City's penalty area - Drury heads ball and defence clear danger.
29th: Speculative shot from McDonald comfortably saved by Exeter 'keeper Paul Jones. Norwood with penalty appeal against Drury, not given.
27th: Exeter increasing their possession after good start by Canaries.
21st: Gill denied by good save by 'keeper from Hoolahan corner.
20th: Good work by Hoolahan, beating three men before attempting to release McDonald on the left, but former Canary loanee Archibald-Henville cuts out the move.
18th: Exeter have first corner of the game. Harley takes but it is cleared away. Adeyemi gives away a free-kick, which is quickly whipped in to the box and former Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart just puts it wide.
16th: Anther City corner - Gill takes, falls for Holt who puts in high ball but it drops out for goal-kick.
15th: Gill blocks shot from Harley.
14th: Cody McDonald has effort cleared off line by Tully after good work by Hoolahan and Gill. McDonald rounded 'keeper but defender there to clear danger.
13th: McDonald wins another corner. Gill takes looking for Askou, it falls to Hoolahan and his cross from right is dropped by Exeter keeper but hoofed clear by Archibald-Henville.
11th: Holt wins City's first corner - Exeter clear away.
8th: Alnwick required to make comfortable save from long-distance shot by Harley.
7th: Bright start from Norwich, Spillane attempts to find Holt with long, quick balls out from defence but Tuesday's hat-trick hero is deemed offside.
3rd: Whaley early cross from the right finds Grant Holt with diving header which flashes narrowly wide.
Game kicks off - City supporters housed behind the goal to our right - around 1,000 making the trip.
The teams come out of the tunnel - Matt Gill gets warm reception from the home crowd after joining the Canaries from Exeter in the summer.
City are unchanged from the team that beat Yeovil 4-0 in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night - only difference is on the bench, where Owain Tudur Jones comes in for Goran Maric after being an unused substitute for Wales midweek.
CITY: Alnwick, Drury, Gill, Holt (Martin 85), Whaley, Doherty (c), Hoolahan (Lappin 82), Spillane, Adeyemi (Tudur Jones 83), McDonald, Askou. Subs not used: Theoklitos, McVeigh, Hughes, Cureton.
Exeter: Jones, Tully, Duffy, Russell, Taylor (c), Harley, Cozic (McAllister 59), Stewart, Sercombe, Archibald Henville, Norwood (Logan 59). Subs not used: Marriott, Edwards, Saunders, Bennett, Burnell.
Pictures courtesy of Pinnacle
