Wheeler on a roll as in-form Exeter rout Crewe

Exeter City made it 12 games unbeaten with a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Crewe at St James' Park.

Exeter went in front on eight minutes when a superb Lloyd James free-kick was headed back across goal and as Crewe failed to clear, Jordan Moore-Taylor poked home the loose ball from close range.

The Grecians, who lost striker Reuben Reid in the warm-up, then saw Ollie Watkins limp off injured and as they struggled to regroup, George Cooper curled a long-range shot off the top of the crossbar for Crewe.

Exeter were indebted to Christy Pym, who made an astonishing double save to deny Cooper and keep their lead intact.

Two minutes later, it was 2-0 as David Wheeler headed in from close range from Liam McAlinden's 58th-minute cross to make it a club-record seven goals in seven successive matches.

On 68 minutes it was 3-0 as Simpson laid the ball off to Wheeler and he drilled a brilliant 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Crewe's misery was compounded by a straight red card for substitute Charlie Kirk for an awful tackle on Exeter's Jake Taylor and on 86 minutes, James curled in from 25 yards to make it 4-0.