Kayden Jackson’s first goal for Town has given the Blues a 1-0 half-time lead over Exeter City in their first round Carabao Cup tie at St James Park.
Boss Paul Hurst made three changes with striker Jackson and midfielder Tayo Edun making their full Town debuts, and Freddie Sears returning to the XI.
Cole Skuse and Ellis Harrison dropped to the bench, while Gwion Edwards missed out with a minor quad problem.
Teddy Bishop, who last played on Boxing Day, and Danny Rowe were among the subs for the first time this season.
Exeter included ex-Blues Lee Martin, who was making his full debut for the Grecians, and Troy Brown.
Town started positively and as on Saturday passed the ball around confidently. On six, after good work from Edun, Jonas Knudsen crossed deep from the left but Craig Woodman nodded away ahead of Jon Nolan.
Having struggled to get hold of the ball in the early stages, Exeter began to get on top and in the 15th minute ex-Blue Martin struck a curling effort from 25 yards which Toto Nsiala blocked, although it looked to be going wide in any case.
Town quickly regained the upper hand and on 17 a Knudsen cross was cleared out to Trevoh Chalobah, whose volley wasn’t too far wide of Grecians’ keeper Christy Pym’s right post.
Chances were rare occurrences but on 26 Janoi Donacien broke into the right of the box and flicked the ball over Pym across the six-yard box but no Town player was on hand to add the final touch and Aaron Martin cleared.
Exeter should have taken the lead on the half hour when Lee Martin was sent away behind the Blues’ backline and crossed to Matt Jay at the far post but the sliding striker somehow scuffed the ball wide when it seemed easier to score.
With eight minutes of the half remaining, Town went in front. Edun skipped past a couple of Exeter players then as he reached halfway sent Jackson away down the left.
The £1.6 million signing from Accrington cut in virtually along the touchline and looked set to cut back to any one of a number of team-mates but instead smashed a shot into the net off Pym at his near post with the keeper covering the cross.
Whether Jackson was shooting or crossing was the subject of debate, however, the 24-year-old appeared to have noticed Pym straying away from his post and had tried something similar from the other flank earlier in the game.
The Blues were a more confident outfit having gone in front and might have doubled their lead just before half-time when a cross ran out to Nolan 12 yards out from where he hit a shot on the turn which was deflected wide off Jake Taylor.
Soon after, the half-time whistle went with the Blues having been in control for the most part, although with Exeter having had the game’s best chance up to Town’s goal through Jay, who really ought to have put his team in front.
As in their previous two games, Town had been comfortable on the ball and played it around slickly at times, with Edun catching the eye, however, without creating too many clear-cut opportunities.
Boss Hurst will be looking for more of the same after the break and the addition of at least a further goal to seal his first win in charge of the club.
Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, Brown, A Martin, Woodman, Boateng, Tillson, Taylor (c), L Martin, Jay, Stockley. Subs: Hamon, Forte, Oates, Abrahams, Croll, Collins, Sparkes.
Town: Bialkowski, Donacien, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Chalobah, Edun, Sears, Nolan, Ward, Jackson. Subs: Gerken, Skuse, Harrison, Spence, Bishop, Rowe, Kenlock. Referee: Brett Huxtable (Devon). Att: 3,675 (Town: 351).