CITY extended their lead at the top of the League One table to five points with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park this afternoon.

Leading goalscorer Grant Holt got the all-important goal early in the second half when he prodded home an Anthony McNamee cross to the delight of the 1,455 travelling fans.

After the match City boss Paul Lambert acknowledged this afternoon's success as another important victory. Lambert told First News: "It's another big win. It is a tough place to come and in difficult conditions but I'm delighted with the lads.

"I thought we had a few chances in the first half, maybe enough to finish the game but we never took them. Then there were some great saves by Fraser when we were hanging on and if we'd have taken our chances in the first half we might not have been in that position."

Wes Hoolahan and Anthony McNamee combined well to set up Holt for the goal and Lambert was swift to praise both players' contribution.

"We've got to try and win more games than not and I think the best way to do that is to attack people and I thought the two of them done fine for us today."

City increased their lead at the summit of League One after second-placed Leeds United dropped two points in their lunchtime match at Huddersfield Town which ended 2-2. The City boss admitted that his players were aware of the final score at the Galpharm but he felt that had no effect on his team.

"Yes, we were aware but we can't influence what happens anywhere else we can only try and win our own games and this was another big three points."

Lambert opted to make just one change from the team that defeated Southend United at Carrow Road in midweek with Korey Smith replacing Stephen Hughes in midfield.

Norwich had the better of the early exchanges and continually looked to utilise the pace of McNamee down the right. The visitors had the ball in the net on nine minutes when Holt headed home a McNamee cross but his effort was ruled out by a linesman's flag for offside.

Oldham then came close three minutes later when Dale Stephens sent a free-kick from 25 yards fizzing just inches over the City crossbar.

The Latics really should have taken the lead on 17 minutes when Reuben Hazell headed the ball into the path of the on-rushing Jason Price but somehow the on-loan striker put his effort wide at the far post when it looked easier to score.

Midway through the opening half Holt started to become a real thorn in Oldham's side as he came close on three occasions. Firstly he chased down a back-pass and almost embarrassed Dean Brill in the Oldham goal whose clearance hit Holt before breaking to safety. Moments later, the City skipper met a McNamee cross with a powerful shot that was gathered by Brill.

The City marksman then came inches away from his 25th goal of the season when he met Wes Hoolahan's cross-cum-shot, with a header but sadly his effort was placed fractionally wide of the target.

Five minutes before the break it was City on the attack again when Chris Martin threaded the ball through to Holt on the edge of the Oldham area. Holt took the ball under control before sending a powerful low shot wide of the far post.

Oldham made a bright start to the second half as Joe Colbeck and Pawel Abbott combined well to tee-up Abbott who saw his rasping shot repelled by Fraser Forster.

Holt's perseverance paid off eight minutes into the second half when he put City in front. Hoolahan played the ball down the left-hand channel to release McNamee and his cross was met at the far post by Holt who stabbed home his 25th goal of the season.

Oldham looked for a swift response and almost engineered an equaliser in the 56th minute when City were grateful to Forster who blocked a powerful effort from Dean Furman.

The hosts continued to battle for an equaliser and City were indebted to brave blocks from Michael Nelson and Michael Rose as they held on to their slender lead.

City survived a double scare in the 84th minute. Keigan Parker burst clear and found himself one-on-one with Forster but the City 'keeper stood firm and blocked Parker's effort for a corner. From that resulting flag-kick Hazell saw his header hacked off the line by Smith.

City came close to adding to their lead two minutes from time when substitute Oli Johnson broke forward and picked out Russell Martin who saw a powerful shot well saved by Brill.