Chris Lakey Chris Martin could one day feature on one of those Christmas videos which highlight the best and worst of football. The best was the goal which knocked the stuffing out of Huddersfield after Wes Hoolahan's opener, when Martin kept his cool in a one-on-one with keeper Alex Smithies, slotted the ball into the bottom left corner and put City 2-0 up.

Chris Lakey

Chris Martin could one day feature on one of those Christmas videos which highlight the best and worst of football.

The best was the goal which knocked the stuffing out of Huddersfield after Wes Hoolahan's opener, when Martin kept his cool in a one-on-one with keeper Alex Smithies, slotted the ball into the bottom left corner and put City 2-0 up.

It was the type of pressure opportunity which players more experienced than the 21-year-old Martin have fluffed before - but confirmation of manager Paul Lambert's belief that he is one of the best finishers he's seen.

Still in his mind was the contribution to the bloopers video, 20-odd minutes earlier, when he was perfectly placed to tap Hoolahan's low cross into an empty net, but somehow contrived to screw it wide.

"To be honest if I didn't score today I wouldn't live that one down," admitted Martin, who now has a dozen league and cup goals to his name this season.

"I don't really know what I was doing, I was just trying to get a strong contact on it and it just ended up skidding off my foot.

"I just thought, 'goal'. I saw Wes with the ball and I thought if I can just keep onside here I can just tap this in at the far post, but it didn't work out."

Hoolahan was the architect of Martin's goal, a long pass from inside his own half finding the striker running down the centre.

"I was relieved when I did go through," said Martin.

"There were a lot of things going through my mind when the ball did come, but a great ball from Wes and luckily I ended up popping it in the corner."

Martin played a minor part in Hoolahan's opener - the final touch which sent the midfielder scampering away for another quality goal - but was glad to be the recipient of another piece of the Irishman's magic.

"It was just a little pass, but I can't take anything away from him," said Martin.

"I'm not trying to claim an assist because it was a great goal and a great run from him and I was probably the most relieved man in the stadium when it went in. He's got great ability and he can spot a pass sometimes before you've even made the run. He is a vital part of the team, especially with his creativity."

The Martin-Hoolahan show helped City shrug off the effects of a first half when Huddersfield were clearly the better side.

"They were certainly one of the best teams in the first half," said Martin.

"Second half was a totally different story. We played some of our best stuff in the second half, probably one of the better performances that we've had in the second half.

"First half we were very disappointed and I think all the lads knew that we had to rally around and we came out second half and showed our spirit.

"I think we got amongst them a bit more. I think all the lads knew the importance of the game, which was massive as well and I think we just got amongst them, got a bit more we got closer to them, we got tighter to them, more tackling going on and it lifted the crowd and it lifted us as well and we went on from there."

Next up is Millwall on Boxing Day.

"It should be a big game - they're a very good team and so are we," said Martin.

"We have had some very good results at home and it should be a very exciting game."