Holt salutes the crowd after sealing the points with the third goal
Norwich continued their magnificent home form to narrow the gap behind leaders Leeds to six points with victory over Exeter.
Grant Holt set the ball rolling when he out-jumped Richard Duffy at the back post to head home Wes Hoolahan's cross.
Chris Martin stabbed home his 14th of the season after 77 minutes.
Marcus Stewart threatened a comeback when he pulled one back after Fraser Forster spilled a shot, but Holt then ran through to add a second.
The Canaries were made to fight to the end by relegation battling Exeter but were helped over the finishing line by their in-form forwards Holt and Martin.
Holt's double took his tally for the season up to an impressive 22, while Martin now has 14 goals to his name.
It was the Canaries' ninth straight victory at Carrow Road and they are now just one short of the club's all-time record.
Since losing 7-1 at home to Colchester on the opening day of the season they have taken 32 points from a possible 36 at home.
Norwich manager Paul Lambert told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"I think we deserved to win the game, we've not played as well as we have been, but I can't ask any more of the players.
"Thev've been absolutely brilliant, but we can't play brilliantly every single game.
"It just shows you there's a bit of resilience there, a bit of hunger and a bit drive to win football matches," he said.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 9 January 2010
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Norwich
3-1
Exeter
FT
(HT 1-0)
Holt 8
Martin 77
Holt 82
Stewart 81
Norwich
21 Forster
03 Drury
05 Nelson
06 Martin
12 Doherty
14 Hoolahan (Johnson 83)
19 Lappin
20 Russell yellow card
30 Smith
09 Holt
16 Martin
Substitutes
13 Rudd,
02 Otsemobor,
04 Gill,
17 Adeyemi,
24 McNamee,
27 McDonald,
32 Johnson
Exeter
27 Jones
02 Tully
03 Duffy yellow card
05 Seaborne
06 Taylor
11 Golbourne
04 Russell (Sercombe 61)
07 Harley
14 Cozic
09 Stansfield (Stewart 61 yellow card)
45 Fleetwood (Logan 61)
Substitutes
01 Marriott,
15 Edwards,
18 Saunders,
21 Dunne,
22 Sercombe,
16 Stewart,
20 Logan
Ref: DeadmanAtt: 24,955
NORWICH
EXETER
Possession
Norwich53%
Exeter47%
Attempts on target
Norwich10
Exeter10
Attempts off target
Norwich9
Exeter6
Corners
Norwich7
Exeter3
Fouls
Norwich9
Exeter8
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:59 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+3:05 The ball is sent over by Bertrand Cozic, Steve Tully takes a shot. Save made by Fraser Forster.
90:00+1:28 Daniel Seaborne fouled by Grant Holt, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Jones takes the direct free kick.
87:33 Inswinging corner taken by Simon Lappin, Paul Jones makes a save.
86:23 The official flags Richard Logan offside. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
86:07 Gary Doherty delivers the ball.
85:09 Oli Johnson has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area missing to the wide left of the goal.
84:08 Unfair challenge on Korey Smith by Scott Golbourne results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Simon Lappin, save made by Paul Jones.
83:41 Foul by Ryan Harley on Simon Lappin, free kick awarded. Adam Drury takes the free kick.
82:34 Substitution Oli Johnson is brought on as a substitute for Wesley Hoolahan.
81:38 The assist for the goal came from Wesley Hoolahan.
81:38 GOAL - Grant Holt:Norwich 3 - 1 Exeter Grant Holt gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Norwich 3-1 Exeter.
81:09 Booking Darel Russell goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
80:59 Booking Marcus Stewart goes into the referee's book.
80:06 GOAL - Marcus Stewart:Norwich 2 - 1 Exeter Marcus Stewart finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Norwich 2-1 Exeter.
79:36 Effort from 25 yards by Liam Sercombe. Save made by Fraser Forster.
79:27 Ryan Harley crosses the ball, Michael Nelson manages to make a clearance.
77:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Grant Holt on Marcus Stewart. Free kick crossed by Ryan Harley, Gary Doherty manages to make a clearance.
76:12 Grant Holt provided the assist for the goal.
76:12 GOAL - Chris Martin:Norwich 2 - 0 Exeter Chris Martin finds the net with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Norwich 2-0 Exeter.
76:06 Centre by Grant Holt,
74:41 Bertrand Cozic has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.
73:44 Centre by Bertrand Cozic, clearance by Darel Russell.
71:10 Shot by Liam Sercombe from outside the box goes over the net.
70:16 Bertrand Cozic fouled by Darel Russell, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Harley.
69:11 Wesley Hoolahan has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.
69:03 Chris Martin sends in a cross, Matthew Taylor manages to make a clearance.
67:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marcus Stewart by Simon Lappin. Ryan Harley has an effort direct from the free kick, comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
64:43 Effort from 30 yards by Liam Sercombe. Save made by Fraser Forster. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Marcus Stewart from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Simon Lappin.
64:30 Richard Duffy sends in a cross.
63:24 Steve Tully delivers the ball, Liam Sercombe has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
62:48 Unfair challenge on Darel Russell by Bertrand Cozic results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Drury.
60:56 Substitution Richard Logan replaces Stuart Fleetwood.
60:56 Substitution Liam Sercombe is brought on as a substitute for Alex Russell.
60:56 Substitution Marcus Stewart comes on in place of Adam Stansfield.
59:53 Steve Tully crosses the ball, save by Fraser Forster.
59:21 Russell Martin takes a shot. Richard Duffy gets a block in.
58:41 The ball is crossed by Russell Martin.
56:52 The ball is sent over by Alex Russell, save by Fraser Forster.
56:37 A cross is delivered by Daniel Seaborne, Michael Nelson manages to make a clearance.
55:22 Corner taken by Simon Lappin from the right by-line played to the near post, save by Paul Jones.
54:02 The ball is swung over by Grant Holt, clearance made by Richard Duffy.
53:32 Centre by Stuart Fleetwood, clearance by Gary Doherty.
52:14 Shot by Chris Martin. Brilliant save by Paul Jones.
50:17 Wesley Hoolahan crosses the ball, Daniel Seaborne manages to make a clearance.
50:03 The ball is delivered by Simon Lappin, clearance by Matthew Taylor.
49:51 The ball is sent over by Chris Martin, clearance made by Matthew Taylor.
49:43 Korey Smith sends in a cross, Daniel Seaborne makes a clearance.
48:39 The ball is sent over by Korey Smith, save made by Paul Jones.
48:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant Holt by Richard Duffy. Wesley Hoolahan takes the direct free kick.
47:50 The assistant referee signals for offside against Adam Drury. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Jones.
47:17 Simon Lappin delivers the ball, Korey Smith produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.
47:03 Simon Lappin delivers the ball, clearance by Daniel Seaborne.
46:41 Chris Martin takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Taylor.
46:21 Matthew Taylor handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Simon Lappin takes the free kick.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+1:02 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+0:42 Effort from 18 yards by Scott Golbourne. Save by Fraser Forster.
44:32 Simon Lappin produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
43:49 Shot from 25 yards from Darel Russell. Blocked by Alex Russell.
43:26 Foul by Bertrand Cozic on Darel Russell, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Michael Nelson.
42:49 Darel Russell sends in a cross, Chris Martin takes a shot. Paul Jones makes a save.
41:47 Scott Golbourne has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
41:31 Steve Tully has an effort at goal. Clearance by Russell Martin.
40:50 The ball is delivered by Scott Golbourne, Alex Russell takes a shot. Fraser Forster makes a fantastic save.
40:40 The ball is sent over by Bertrand Cozic, clearance made by Russell Martin.
39:59 Daniel Seaborne produces a cross, clearance made by Michael Nelson.
39:01 Unfair challenge on Bertrand Cozic by Simon Lappin results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alex Russell. Ryan Harley has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.
37:58 Corner taken left-footed by Simon Lappin from the right by-line, Michael Nelson produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.
36:57 Adam Drury takes a shot from 12 yards. Paul Jones makes a fantastic save. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Simon Lappin from the right by-line.
35:04 Simon Lappin takes the outswinging corner, Michael Nelson takes a shot. Brilliant save by Paul Jones.
34:33 The ball is sent over by Stuart Fleetwood, Adam Stansfield takes a shot. Save made by Fraser Forster.
32:14 Free kick crossed by Darel Russell, Richard Duffy manages to make a clearance.
32:14 Booking Caution for Richard Duffy.
32:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Duffy on Chris Martin.
31:06 The ball is swung over by Adam Drury, Chris Martin has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.
30:29 The ball is delivered by Korey Smith, Richard Duffy makes a clearance.
28:08 Foul by Bertrand Cozic on Simon Lappin, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Michael Nelson.
27:04 Scott Golbourne has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.
26:44 Shot from 18 yards from Simon Lappin. Save made by Paul Jones.
26:12 A cross is delivered by Scott Golbourne, Korey Smith makes a clearance.
25:09 Corner taken left-footed by Simon Lappin, save by Paul Jones.
24:10 Ryan Harley takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Russell Martin manages to make a clearance.
22:47 Chris Martin concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Duffy. Paul Jones takes the free kick.
22:16 Steve Tully produces a cross, save made by Fraser Forster.
19:39 The ball is swung over by Bertrand Cozic, Steve Tully takes a shot. Clearance made by Darel Russell. Inswinging corner taken by Scott Golbourne from the right by-line, save by Fraser Forster.
19:24 Scott Golbourne produces a cross, Fraser Forster manages to make a clearance.
18:34 Adam Stansfield challenges Michael Nelson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Michael Nelson.
17:40 Steve Tully crosses the ball, save by Fraser Forster.
17:23 Unfair challenge on Matthew Taylor by Grant Holt results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Daniel Seaborne.
17:05 The ball is delivered by Adam Drury, Daniel Seaborne makes a clearance.
13:03 The assistant referee signals for offside against Adam Stansfield. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
11:39 Grant Holt has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
10:25 Corner taken by Simon Lappin from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Richard Duffy.
8:00 Assist on the goal came from Wesley Hoolahan.
8:00 GOAL - Grant Holt:Norwich 1 - 0 Exeter Grant Holt grabs a headed goal from close range. Norwich 1-0 Exeter.
7:57 The ball is crossed by Wesley Hoolahan,
6:04 The referee blows for offside. Paul Jones takes the indirect free kick.
4:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Duffy by Simon Lappin. Direct free kick taken by Paul Jones.
2:46 Simon Lappin takes a shot from 20 yards. Save by Paul Jones.
1:27 Unfair challenge on Bertrand Cozic by Korey Smith results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Daniel Seaborne.
0:00 The match gets underway.
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