Andy has Ex factor

ANDY HOLDSWORTH savoured his moment in the spotlight as he guided Sheffield Wednesday to a first victory at Exeter in their history.

Adam Reach (above) conjured a touch of the sublime to fire the Owls in front and Callum Paterson made it three goals in three games.

Holdsworth stepped up from academy coach for one game only after a coronavirus outbreak.

He beamed: “I have loved every minute of it. The remit was to get through to the next round.

“It was a professional performance from the lads and their commitment, desire and work ethic to go and win the game was pleasing.”

The Owls made three changes from the side that beat Derby after caretaker boss Neil Thompson, his temporary assistants and some of his firstteam squad were all sidelined.

Exeter began well, with Matt Jay heading a whisker wide.

But the one moment of quality came in the 27th minute after Barry Bannan’s free-kick caught Rory Mcardle napping.

With the angle narrowing, Reach chested the ball down and smashed a volley past Lewis Ward at his near post.

League Two Exeter were killed off in the 90th minute when Liam Shaw robbed Nigel Atangana and burst up field before laying the ball into the path of Patterson who made no mistake.

Exeter manager Matt Taylor moaned: “In my three years this is the most frustrated and disappointed I have been.

“Our keeper didn’t have a save to make in anger and we got beat 2-0.“EXETER CITY: Ward 6; Caprice 6, Mcardle 5, Parkes 6, Page 6 (Sparkes 46, 7), Key 6; Taylor 6 (Atangana 77, 5), Collins 6, Randall 6 (Ajose 77); Jay 6 (Law 61, 6), Bowman 6 (Seymour 61, 5), Unused Subs: Maxted, Fisher, Kite, Hartridge SHEFF WEDS: Wildsmith 7; Odubajo 7, Brennan 7, Shaw 7, Galvin 6 (Eratt-thompson 90); Harris 6, Hunt 6 (Dele-bashiru 65, 6), Bannan 8, Pelupessy 6; Reach 7, Paterson 6 (Rice 90). Unused Subs: Render . MAN OF THE MATCH: Barry Bannan. Midfielder made Wednesday tick and was the architect for the opener . REFEREE: Dean Whitestone 8.