On The Ball written by Gareth Payne.
Full-time - Darren Deadman blows the full-time whistle and City claim the three points while Leeds United drop two at home to Wycombe Wanderers. City led through an 8th minute Grant Holt header. Then three goals in six minutes saw City go two to the good through a Chris Martin tap-in. Sub Marcus Stewart got one back for Exeter when he pounced on a parry from Fraser Forster. Holt restored the two-goal cushion on 82 minutes rounding Paul Jones from a Wes Hoolahan through ball.
90+2 - "GET IN!!! 3-1. Lets hope Wycombe can at least hold Leeds to a draw to add more pressure." - bbarcniloc
90th - Four minutes of time to be added on and Wycombe still hold Leeds at Elland Road.
85th - Oli Johnson straight into the action, receives the ball out left, great feet to skip away from the first challenge, keeps going, the space opens and onwards he travels, 20 yards out he thinks why not and lets fly, narrowly wide, almost a fantastic start to his City career. A huge smile emerges across his face as the crowd chant his name!
83rd - Here comes Oli Johnson for his City debut. Signed just yesterday from Stockport County and two years was playing non-league football in front of 50 people. What a moment for him here, he replaces the ever-impressive Wes Hoolahan, who claims two assists for the Grant Holt goals.
82nd - An instant response from City. Smith finds Hoolahan with a short pass, the Irishman jinks away from his defender and slides a ball through to Holt, onside, one-on-one with the 'keeper, rounds him to the left and a simply tap in. Goal number 22 of the season.
80th - Exeter respond almost instantly. Fraser Forster spills a long-range half-volley and Marcus Stewart is first to it, fakes to shoot and rounds the prone Forster to tap in. Stewart and Darel Russell are booked for a dispute over the return of the football.
77th - How we need that!! Chris Martin taps City into a two-goal lead with Wycombe Wanderers holding Leeds United 1-1 at Elland Road. Simon Lappin delivers a brilliant ball from the left, Grant Holt on the stretch turns the ball back into the six-yard box, where Chris Martin is on hand to tap in despite the best efforts of the defender on the line. Oli Johnson is being readied.
75th - City struggling to gain any sort of possession at the moment having to hit long and Exeter come mighty close to levelling things. Berti Cozic with an effort from 25 yards, which saw Forster rooted to the spot and the ball flash inches of the far post.
70th - Great footwork and skill from Hoolahan and he has the vision to square it to Lappin. The Scot is able to play Chris Martin away down the right. With the penalty area vacant, the striker is forced to wait and crosses low looking for Lappin, but like before it is turned away from the toes of Lappin.
68th - Simon Lappin adjudged to have pushed over Richard Logan, about 25 yards from goal, just right of centre, Richard Duffy goes for the shot but Forster makes a comfortable save stepping to his left.
65th - Exeter enjoying the better of things just recently, Forster having to shovel a long-range effort round the post.
63rd - All three subs immediately combine, Logan crosses, Stewart chests it down and Sercombe strikes on the half-volley, it curls narrowly wide of the top-hand corner.
62nd - A Jose Mourinho-esque triple change by manager Paul Tisdale - who is accompanied by Director of Football and former Spurs captain Steve Perryman in the technical area this afternoon - leaving the field are midfielder Alex Russell, striker Adam Stansfield and Stuart Fleetwood to be replaced by Liam Sercombe, Richard Logan and former Ipswich frontman Marcus Stewart.
59th - Ball played into the feet of Holt, just outside the area, holds it up and waits, Smith makes the run into the box, Holt tries to squeeze a pass through to him but Matt Taylor goes to ground to block.
56th - Holt working the right-hand channel this time and wins a corner off the heels of Dan Seaborne. Lappin inswinging, Scott Golbourne stoops to header, practically off the floor and Paul Jones dives to gather, the ball is loose for a second or two, but gathered in by Jones.
53rd - Chris Martin played in with space on the left. Runs at the defender, uses the decoy run by not using him and looks to curl a right-footed effort, which Jones does well to save but spills and regathers at the feet of the sliding Holt.
50th - Korey Smith on the right, low cross into the box looking for Holt, but turned away from the big striker.
48th - Good positive start from City to the second half. Retaining possession around the Exeter box and Drury delivering a cross, which Korey Smith attacks at pace, but his header clears the bar.
46th - City get us back underway, shooting towards the Barclay Stand. No changes at the interval.
Half-time - Darren Deadman blows the whistle for half-time and it will be Exeter most annoyed to hear it as they were enjoying their best spell of the match. Grant Holt's 8th minute header from Hoolahan's cross separates the sides at Carrow Road, in which City have dominated for the most part.
45+1 - There's the danger man Golbourne again, receives the ball to feet on the left, Martin faces him up and the winger opts for the early shot which Forster claims into his body.
45th - One minute of time to be added on at the end of the half.
43rd - Hoolahan chips a ball over the top of the defence and onto it runs Simon Lappin, he tries to lob Jones with a header but the 'keeper is too tall for that.
41st - A wonderful save from Fraser Forster keeps City ahead. Golbourne again down the left the creator, Adam Stansfield meets his cross but the outstretched foot of Forster denies the forward. Exeter keep the pressure on though and Steve Tully is free on the right, his shot beats Forster but Russell Martin is back on the line to clear.
38th - More great attacking play from City. Holt coming in off the left again goes at his full-back, plays it inside, is bodychecked but the referee plays the advantage. Hoolahan spies the run of Drury in behind and the Irishman finds him perfectly, one touch and a blast from the left-back is parried away by Jones. From the corner, Nelson again climbs highest but his header goes narrowly over the bar.
36th - Holt wins another corner for City, this time Lappin to take from the left. Outswinger, met by Michael Nelson and a good save by Jones to his left.
33rd - Richard Duffy enters Darren Deadman's notebook for a late sliding challenge on Chris Martin.
32nd - Drury robs Tully in an advanced right position and hangs up a cross for Chris Martin at the back stick. His header, combined with Dan Seaborne's goes over the bar and Martin wants a corner but won't get one.
30th - Great interchange in the midfield from the likes of Lappin and Hoolahan. Unfortunately they can't quite set Russell Martin away down the right.
27th - An absolutely delightful pass by Wes Hoolahan with the outside of his left foot sets Holt away through the left channel. He runs at Steve Tully inside the box and opts to lay it off for Simon Lappin but his left-footed effort takes a deflection and loops up into the arms of the former Leyton Orient goalkeeper Paul Jones.
26th - Nice footwork and strength sees Holt win a corner for City. Simon Lappin to take from the right. Paul Jones comes to claim the Lappin corner, it's not the former Southampton 'keeper by the way.
20th - Exeter looking dangerous. Fraser Forster comes off his line well diving at the feet of Stuart Fleetwood to prevent the striker eight yards from goal latching onto Scott Golbourne's pass. Golbourne gets in again down the left and flashes a dangerous cross across the box and Berti Cozic sees his effort blocked by Drury. Forster comes to claim the resulting corner.
19th - City keeping and using the ball efficiently at the moment, working openings. Holt coming very close to slipping in Chris Martin inside the box.
14th - "YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Hoolahan and Holt are just the best pair in the League 1. Holt doesn't miss many headers. OTBC!!!!" - panomania
12th - City build again, Michael Nelson with a strong header, flicked on by Chris Martin but half-cleared. Simon Lappin picked up the loose ball and fed Holt on the edge of the area but a wayward shot on his left foot by Holt.
11th - Simon Lappin corner from the right, which is headed clear at the near post.
8th - City lead here at Carrow Road! Slightly odd feeling as it took a few seconds for everybody to react. Grant Holt himself had a quick glance over to the assistant as he wheeled away. The architect was Wes Hoolahan, cutting inside off the right flank and floating a cross to the far post, where Holt had peeled off his marker and headed past Paul Jones. Goal number 21 of the season for the skipper.
3rd - Simon Lappin has the first attempt at goal, but straight into the waiting arms of Paul Jones, who is wearing an illuminous orange kit, not sure if he was expecting it to be difficult to people to see him through the snow and blizzards we're currently not having.
1st - Exeter get us underway with kicking towards the Norwich and Peterborough Stand first half.
The players emerge from the tunnel to a great reception and Blur's Song 2 blazing out.
"I am hoping that we can have a comprehensive win today with a clean sheet! Saying this I would take a scrappy win if that's what we got. I think we need to make the most of these games when a lot around us aren't playing. If we keep winning then the pressure will be on those with the games in hand! OTBC!!!!" - mnemo2002
"Hello from a warm living room in Rutland I'm looking to another good win today. 3-0 maybe? It's good to see that the staff at the Club has made this game possible today. Well done Lambert for not wanting the Burnley job you're needed at Carrow Road. Richard. OTBC!!!!" - Richard in Rutland
Newsflash - Paul Lambert has been named as the Coca-Cola League One manager of the month for December, which saw City win four and draw one in the league.
Looking back to the 1-1 draw at St James' Park against Exeter in mid-August earlier in the season. Four players that started that game start today and they are Adam Drury, Gary Doherty, Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt. Matt Gill, Tom Adeyemi and Cody McDonald are on the bench, while Jens Berthel Askou and Michael Spillane are out injured. The other two starters that day were on-loan 'keeper Ben Alnwick, who has since returned to Tottenham Hotspur and Simon Whaley who has spent time on loan at Rochdale and Bradford City since. Exeter retain eight players from the starting line-up.
The presentation is being made on the pitch to the Anglian Home Improvements Player of the Msonth for December, which goes to Irish playmaker Wes Hoolahan - congratulations to him and thank you to everyone who voted!
Stat attack - City have won eight home league matches in a row - scoring 23 goals and conceding two in the process dating back to September 29, when a 4-0 win over Leyton Orient started the run. It is 11 unbeaten at home in the league, that includes draws against Walsall and Charlton Athletic, both back in September. In those 11 games, it is scored 30 and conceded sixs. Exeter's away league record stands at 2-2-8 from 12 matches, 10 scored and 24 conceded.
This is one of only seven games going ahead in England today. Here's a full rundown of the others, in the Premier League, Arsenal host Everton and Manchester United travel to Birmingham City. In the Championship there are three games on and they are, Cardiff City v Blackpool, Coventry City v Barnsley and Derby County v Scunthorpe United. In League One, the top two are on, Leeds United host Wycombe Wanderers and this game at Carrow Road - City v Exeter City.
Paul Lambert names an unchanged starting line-up from the win over Wycombe Wanderers last weekend. There are two changes on the bench, Declan Rudd returns in place of Jed Steer and new striker signing Oli Johnson instead of Josh Dawkin. Matt Gill is also on the bench for City, against his former side Exeter City, from whom he was signed in the summer. For Exeter former loanee Troy Archibald-Henville starts and former Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart is on the bench. Full team news:
CITY: Forster, Drury, Nelson, R.Martin, Holt (c), Doherty, Hoolahan (Johnson 83), C.Martin, Lappin, Russell, Smith. Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Otsemobor, Gill, Adeyemi, McNamee, McDonald.
Exeter: Jones, Tully, Duffy, Russell (Sercombe 62), Seaborne, Taylor (c), Harley, Stansfield (Stewart 62), Goldbourne, Cozic, Fleetwood (Logan 62). Subs not used: Marriott (GK), Edwards, Saunders, Dunne.
Referee: Darren Deadman
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