Freddie Ladapo and Marcus Harness were on target as Town beat Exeter City 2-0 at St James Park, the Blues’ seventh away win of the season. Ladapo gave Town the lead with a stooping header from a Harness knockdown in the 11th minute, then Harness sealed the three points with a flicked header from a Leif Davis corner on 68.

Cameron Burgess returned to the Town line-up on the left of the defence with George Edmundson dropping to the bench, while the Blues XI was otherwise unchanged for the first league meeting between the teams since April 1957 when Town won 2-1 at St James Park under Sir Alf Ramsey in Division Three South.

Gassan Ahadme was back among the subs having recovered from his foot injury, while Greg Leigh also travelled for the first time since his compression fracture to his leg.

Exeter made one change with an extra midfielder, Harry Kite, coming into the team for forward Matt Jay, who dropped to the bench.

On-loan Town midfielder Rekeem Harper was ineligible and watching from the sidelines, laughing that he was “a neutral” when asked which side he was supporting.

The Grecians saw most of the ball in the early stages but without threatening. On seven, Leif Davis won a corner on the left from which Conor Chaplin mistimed his header and the ball looped well over.

Town began to take control and in the 10th minute Chaplin crossed from the right and Harness flicked goalwards, however, keeper Jamal Blackman was able to block.

But a minute later, the Blues were in front. Skipper Sam Morsy chipped a ball into the box towards Harness, who nodded down to Ladapo and the one-time Plymouth striker stooped to nod his ninth goal of the season - and his fifth in five games - into the net.

Town went looking for a second, putting the Grecians under significant pressure in the minutes after their goal and on 20 a Harness shot from the edge of the box looped behind for a corner.

However, the home side withstood the brief storm and in the 22nd minute forced Blues keeper Christian Walton into his first save of the afternoon.

A corner from the right was looped back in by home skipper Pierce Sweeney and Alex Hartridge hooked an effort at goal from close range which Walton bundled wide of the post.

Five minutes later, Jack Sparkes blazed over from 25 yards after another corner had been worked short to him.

With neither side having carved out a chance with the game going through a flat spell, Cameron Humphreys required treatment in the 38th minute but fortunately was able to continue.

As the half moved into injury time, Burns was tripped as he burst away on the right and Sparkes was shown the game’s first yellow card.

Davis hit a low shot from the free-kick towards the near post which got stuck under a defender’s feet before being cleared.

That was the final action of the half with the Blues deserving their lead at the break, although without dominating in the manner of many of their games this season.

Exeter had started well but Town had started to get on top when they scored their well-worked goal. The Blues threatened a second in the spell immediately after the goal but without causing Blackman much more trouble before the game went through a flat period towards the break.

Town keeper Walton was forced into one save but otherwise had had a quiet first period, although with the Grecians having made headway down the right on a couple of occasions.

The second half got off to a slow start but in the 57th minute determined Town pressing on the left as Exeter played out from the back led to a chance. Ladapo fed Harness inside the area, the forward took it across his man but couldn’t find room to shoot and played it on towards Chaplin but behind his fellow number 10 and the chance was gone.

A minute later, following a Town break he started with a ball forward to Ladapo, Humphreys struck a shot from the edge of the box which Blackman did well to help over the bar.

The Blues went close to their second of the game right on the hour when, after Ladapo’s initial shot had been blocked, Davis stood up a cross and the striker’s header was well saved by Blackman.

Exeter made their first change of the afternoon in the 62nd minute when striker Sam Nombe replaced Kite.

Two minutes later, a Donacien shot from the edge of the box was deflected over and as the Blues prepared for the corner Chaplin was replaced by one-time Exeter loanee Kyle Edwards.

Town had started to threaten and in the 68th minute they went 2-0 in front. Davis whipped over a corner from the right and Harness got ahead of his man and flicked a header across Blackman and into the net.

The forward celebrated his seventh goal of the season - and his first in eight games - in front of the sell-out Blues away following behind the goal.

Exeter claimed a penalty in the 70th minute when Nombe went down under pressure from a number of Town defenders as he shot wide but referee Alan Young wasn’t interested.

Moments later, a dangerous ball across the Grecians’ area from the right was stabbed away from Edwards and behind as the sub was about to tap home the Blues’ third.

In the 74th minute, Town swapped Davis, who looked to have suffered a hamstring problem, for Kane Vincent-Young and Exeter switched Key for Cheick Diabate.

On 77, Walton’s long kick almost saw Burns in on goal but Diabate was just able to outmuscle the Welshman and Blackman claimed.

A minute later, Edwards exchanged passes with Harness and twisted and turned his way into the area on the left but Blackman blocked his shot. Soon after, Exeter replaced Sparkes with Jay.

With four minutes remaining, Harness was booked following a foul on the left. From the free-kick, the ball briefly ran loose before Sweeney looped wide of Walton’s right post and out of play.

Exeter had by no means given up and continued to look for a goal in the closing stages but, as had been the case all afternoon, were unable to find a way through the Blues’ backline, which had had a very strong afternoon, Burgess in particular having been a towering presence at set pieces.

In the final scheduled minute, Town swapped Burns and Ladapo for Kayden Jackson and Ahadme. Burns took his time over leaving the field and was shown his fourth League One yellow card of the season before making his way round the field past the Blues supporters and receiving a rapturous ovation.

Exeter continued to look for a goal in the closing minutes but with the Town defence remaining resolute to see out the clean sheet and their seventh away win of the campaign, equalling last year's total already.

The win was never in any real doubt once Ladapo had given the Blues the lead with the usually free-scoring Grecians never able to lay a glove on the Town backline.

While chances had been limited for long spells, Town had created a couple of opportunities before Harness’s second cemented the three points.

From there, the Blues might have added to their lead on the break, while repelling everything the Devon side threw at them.

The victory was Town's third in a row on live TV, their third in 24 matches on Sky and fifth in 38 on live UK television overall.

Following Plymouth's 2-2 draw at Burton later in the afternoon, the Blues are now two points behind the leaders. Sheffield Wednesday in third beat Shrewsbury 1-0 at Hillsborough and remain a point behind Town.

Exeter: Blackman, Key (Diabate 74), Sweeney (c), Hartridge, Caprice, Collins, Dieng, Kite (Nombe 62), Sparkes (Jay 78), Brown, Stansfield. Unused: Lee, Grounds, Beardmore, Chauke.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns, Humphreys, Morsy (c), Davis (Vincent-Young 74), Chaplin (Edwards 64), Harness, Ladapo. Subs: Hladky, Edmundson, Camara, Ahadme, Jackson. Referee: Alan Young (Cambridgeshire). Att: 7,232 (Town: 1,208).

Photo: Pinnacle

Northstandveteran added 17:03 - Nov 19 Burton 97th minute equaliser. That'll do. Not just us then?
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RobsonWark added 17:15 - Nov 19 Skip grow up! It's almost your bed time.
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oldegold added 17:20 - Nov 19 Norfolk's village idiot robsonwark offending as usual fellow supporters.. incapable of writing without insulting fans. Time to send him back to Norfolk
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:30 - Nov 19 Nomore4: You say, " Every game we go into you expect us to lose……Very odd." I admit I was a bit worried about Exeter given our recent performances against Cheltenham and Charlton, but I can assure you I do not go into every game expecting us to lose. Today was a good, solid win, and I hope, nay expect, that we will continue to turn in such performances in the future, while at the same time always respecting the opposition.

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Billericay12 added 17:39 - Nov 19 A solid 2-0 performance that and nice to see it's not only us that concede a late equaliser in stoppage time. That was the icing on the cake when Burton equalised ! Some solid performances today. Burgess showed he has been missed. Morsy was excellent as always and Humphrey's is proving to be a capable deputy for Evans. I do worry a bit when we sit back on a 1 or 2 goal lead. It seems we are inviting them on so we can hit on the break which can be a risky tactic. But I am nit picking really. I have enjoyed every game I have watched this season which is most of them. COYB

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Marinersnose added 17:44 - Nov 19 Fantastic and professional away win and a clean sheet. Pleased Ladapo notched again. Morsy Humphrey's and Wolfenden outstanding.
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warktheline added 17:55 - Nov 19 @skip, hilarious 🤣😂 keep reminding those ‘goldfish' memories 🤣
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blueboy1981 added 18:00 - Nov 19 Dissboyitfc - many Moons still to go before May 23. Don't be too sure yet that those with Egg on Faces are not the ones predicting Promotion in November - it's not even Christmas yet !! And we, as well as others, have been here before remember !! But lets hope the second part of the Season follows the form of the first part. Then we'll ALL see …. !!
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Flamencaman added 18:51 - Nov 19 Have to say but disrespectful to KVY a very able deputy coming back to his best,as for Humphrey's what else can the kid do doesn't give the ball away very often keeps it simple and improves every game we've found a small but huge diamond at the risk of being screamed at the next James Madison type player, he's going to be awesome, and Burgess definitely his best form for us looking real class

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therein61 added 19:01 - Nov 19 Credit all round you blues for a solid 3 points and a clean sheet It would be nice to go through the comments (even after a win) without the mindless name calling and insults from the playground group who appear to not have any football knowledge or interest other than spoiling proper footballing fans enjoyment.
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warktheline added 19:05 - Nov 19 @blueboy, still MUCH TO DO!! Why two !! 🤣
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Linkboy13 added 19:14 - Nov 19 Before the game i would have settled for a solid one nil win. But i needn't have worried we were outstanding today and should have won by more. But still there are negatives on here like people who always say the other team were rubbish and give no credit to our performance. Burgess motm but there were many good performances including a mature performance by young Humphreys. I said couple of months ago that he had the rare ability to spot a pass early a skill that you cannot teach. It's important that he's looked after carefully and not overplayed as he's still developing physically . With the development of sport science the players are all assessed in training hence the constant rotation of players keeping them in tip top condition and other players match fit. Possibly the only player that's irreplaceable is Morsy who if got injured long term would be a huge blow COYB.

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DaGremloid added 19:38 - Nov 19 warktheline - if you can be bothered to read you will see that most fans who rightly criticise the team for a poor performance will praise them for a good win. Probably a good idea to give Mummy her laptop back now.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 19:43 - Nov 19 We're all doomed, doomed I tell ya!
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ArnieM added 19:52 - Nov 19 I think a helluva lot of credit should go to the manager and the whole squad in their reflection on the last game, and the prep for todays game. We all know KMcK does this day in day out fir every game. But what came across to me today was the TOTAL 100% true squad effort to “ get the job done”. Sleeves rolled up, and everyone on that team bus / field of play snd in the dug out worked for one goal - win the game . Absolutely TOP TOP professional job done today. That's the level the bar HAS to stay at . COYBs 👍

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19781981twtd added 20:00 - Nov 19 Good solid all round performance many outstanding performances most pleasing was Woolfie looking far more confident with Burgess in the team he is worried. God day all round big cheers to Burton.
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19781981twtd added 20:02 - Nov 19 Burgess a warrior!!!
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FrankMarshall added 21:05 - Nov 19 Solid win and a very good performance. Congrats to the team!
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Nomore4 added 21:21 - Nov 19 Hopefully keep the faith now #arnie. How any supporter can call a defeat for their team pre KO is totally baffling. Especially when their team sits 2nd
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Dissboyitfc added 21:30 - Nov 19 Blueboy I am standing by my prediction in November that come May we will be promoted and looking forward to the Championship. More than prepared to eat humble pie if I am wrong! Will you do the same over your many predictions?
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warktheline added 23:02 - Nov 19 @dagremloid, you've, and others on here, have no right to criticise a manager and team that sit currently second in division 1….a division that the likes of you, sat back, without voice, and allowed Evans to sleepwalk the club into!….it's abundantly obvious that you, and others, such as @blueboy, get a warped sense of satisfaction when the boys don't achieve 3 points on any given game! Shame you didn't direct such negativity towards days gone by!

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Dissboyitfc added 07:49 - Nov 20 Warktheline…. I find it all very sad that some on here do get as you put it a warped sense of satisfaction when results don't go as they should. We do have a team that is on the up and not every game is going to be 3 points. I am loving the football down at Portman road again, great hearing this being said by the ex pros of Ipswich town, Terry Butcher saying he hated previous seasons and would stay away in previous seasons. Keep the faith we are going up!

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Dissboyitfc added 09:05 - Nov 20 These same supporters would have been calling for Sir Bobbys head in his early days at Portman! Things could be better and there is always room for improvement, but quite frankly the turn around since KM's arrival has been in the main very good, away form is excellent! I would doubt there are many experts who post on here, the truth is if there were they would be concentrating on their next opponents in whatever league they were in! I would ask all grown ups to start behaving as such and stop with the childish name calling! I hear people saying that we have been here in November in previous seasons, not playing this well we haven't and I see consistent improvement.

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warktheline added 09:34 - Nov 20 @blueboy and the knee jerk cronies, you aren't going to get away with remarks such as ‘the manager and players have been found out!' etc etc when we dominate a game but ‘little all and sundry' parked the bus and scored with one shot on target, to very fortunately earn a point, and then when we dismantle a decent and tricky Exeter, remark, good win enjoy your evenings! ….Caldwell remarks about our team are much more fitting…try reading them!…in case you haven't noticed, our away record is second to none! A few minor adjustments on home soil will follow…trust our owners, manager and players!

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Billysherlockblue added 11:59 - Nov 20 My take on the game was exeter were poor. Their midfield non existent hence the created little. Superb games by burgess no 1 for me with woolfie outstanding and davis morsey and harness very good . To be fair all played well mabey chapps needs a rest to find his form again.our intensity dropped off until the subs which is a concern against better teams. If u dont do it in training and against poorer teams you wont sustain against better teams. Thats my opinion. However these things are all coaching related and i think we are doing this town proud. Win lose or draw as long as they give their all i think we as supporters will be happy but god i luv the way we are playing and going at present. Well done to all and our fab supporters. 1300 at Exeter. Be proud all. Coyb

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