CHRISTMAS is supposed to be the season of good will, but there was little of that on show at St James' Park on Saturday as Exeter City got back to winning ways with a 1-0 League One win over Southend United.

Both the Grecians and the Shrimpers had a men sent off – Barry Corr for City, his second red card of the season, and Jabo Ibehre for Southend – for petty off-the-ball incidents in a stormy second half, but by then the points were safely in the bag for Exeter after Adam Stansfield's 17th-minute strike.

The win was welcome relief to Exeter, who went into the game having lost their last four encounters. At times it was nervous, at times it was scrappy. But this was a fixture where – as manager Paul Tisdale pointed out – points mattered far more than the performance.

It was a good win, though. Not for the scintillating football we have often become accustomed to with the Grecians, but because City showed they can also mix it and scrap it out when they need to. Needless to say, on an afternoon where they needed that graft and spirit, Matt Taylor and Adam Stansfield really excelled for the cause of their team. None more so than Stansfield, who must have run a 90- minute marathon. His incessant running was the highlight of Exeter's performance and the fact he capped it off with the only goal of the game added the gloss to a simply outstanding individual display.

However, it would be hard to highlight just Stansfield as Exeter's main man. Taylor was imperious at the back with some uncompromising defending. Scott Golbourne again caught the eye with an energetic and fine all-round performance up and down the left flank, but there were many more too. This was a real team effort where grace and style played second fiddle to the "uglier" facets of football.

City went into the game adopting the wing-back approach that had served them well but unsuccessfully at Bristol Rovers. Danny Seaborne was not among the 11 named for duty, with his place going to Troy Archibald-Henville. There was also a welcome recall for Paul Jones in goal, and his return in place of Andy Marriott was almost seamless as he also turned in a pretty faultless display.

Stansfield was partnered by Corr in attack, and he also played his part. That was until his stupid red card shortly past the hour mark for a petulant kick at Southend midfielder Anthony Grant. That was his second red this season, after a similar offence at Leeds United on the opening day, and the fiery Irishman will now miss Exeter's next four matches. This was a Christmas card that he and City could have done without.

Exeter started brightly, with Ryan Harley firing a free-kick straight at goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall before Southend countered. They really should have scored as well as Simon Malone crossed to Ibehre, but, from barely six yards, he headed wide of goal.

It was a costly miss for the visitors, who fell behind shortly afterwards. Archibald-Henville's long ball found Stansfield, who had run the inside-right channel. Mildenhall did not know whether to come and clear or stay at home, and got caught somewhere in between. Stansfield took full advantage by lofting the ball over the stranded former Yeovil Town glovesman, and the ball went in off the far post for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Lee Barnard, making his first return to Exeter since a loan spell back in the 2002-03 season, wasted a good chance when he headed straight at Jones, while Ryan Harley – perhaps under the watchful eye of Plymouth's Paul Sturrock – poked narrowly wide of goal from Golbourne's deep cross.

Ibehre was again off target with a glorious chance – heading wastefully wide once more – on the stroke of half-time and, by then, Southend were in the ascendancy. They started the second half with real purpose, but Exeter stood firm, none more so than their three centre-halves, Taylor, Archibald-Henville and Duffy.

When they were breached, Jones came to the rescue – as he did early in the second half by keeping out another Barnard header – before Taylor made a brilliant block to keep out Alan McCormack's shot after a mazy dribble through the heart of the Grecians' defence.

With Exeter under the cosh, the last thing they needed was to lose a man and that is exactly what happened as referee Roger East wasted no time in flashing the red card at Corr for a childish kick. That meant Stansfield was left on his own up front, but he played the part of two, maybe three, men as he provided Exeter with an outlet and an insatiable appetite to chase, harry and close down anything that came his way. Despite the disadvantage, City really should have made it two when Steve Tully found himself unmarked six yards out, but he failed to make contact and a great chance went begging. Maybe he needs his girlfriend and Exeter City Ladies defender Tamsin Braund to show him how it's done!

Things evened up in terms of personnel when Ibehre stupidly shoved Duffy in the chest and, although East missed it, his linesman didn't. After a quick word with his assistant, East was in no mood for forgiveness and brandished the red card to Ibehre, who was incensed by Duffy's actions.

That effectively killed off Southend as they struggled to find any real momentum after that. They had chances, with Jones saving well from James Walker and Adam Barrett heading wide from Simon Francis' cross. However, Exeter looked threatening on the counter-attack and, with one such move, Rob Edwards played the ball towards Stansfield. In truth, the pass was poor and gave him little chance, but the striker never gave up and robbed Sean Morrison of possession, leaving him on his backside. That sent Stansfield in on goal, but tiredness perhaps got the better of him as he placed his shot wide of the far post.

Five minutes of injury time were played, but Southend had run out of ideas. That did not stop an edgy home crowd from chewing on their nails, but Exeter played out time well. Now, they can look forward to their trip to Southampton on Boxing Day with a much needed win under their belt.