Week 8 results. Not good. Not good at all...

Not quite belly up, but one win out of five brings in no money at all this week as The Grambler records his/her/its worst week since Week 3 when I first took on the task of reporting The Grambler’s predictions.  What went wrong, do I hear you ask (of course I don’t.  You are where you are and I am here.  I couldn’t possibly hear you.)? Well read on and I shall unravel the day’s proceedings for you.

Yeovil vs Nottingham Forest – Draw – Naw

Righto off we go.  Well, this game sets the pattern for all that follows in that the result goes totally against any sane person’s way of thinking.  I, and many like me, had this one down as a win for Nottingham Forest – Wrong!  The Grambler had it down as a draw – Wrong!  In actual fact Yeovil, who have been struggling big style since moving to this league from Division 1 (or 3!!!) and have been unable to secure a win since day one of the season, proved us all wrong and took all three points in an exciting 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.

That afternoon tea with the Glovers didn’t go too well at all - ‘Another scone Mrs Forester?’  ‘F*** off you cow!’

Ed Upson's deflected volley gave Yeovil the lead before Forest's Simon Cox had a penalty saved by Wayne Hennessey.

Upson added another from 25 yards and although Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah headed in, Yeovil made it 3-1 through a Byron Webster header.

Three goals!  Three!  It is the first time Yeovil have managed to score more than a single goal in any game this season.  It is also the first time their fans have been able to cheer them on in a home match.

Carlisle United vs Bristol City – Home – Naw

See above.  The Grambler and I both saw this as a dead cert for Carlisle seeing as they have been the team that has been doing so well.  Wrong!  I mean, come on, Bristol City are right at the bottom of the table, nobody in their right mind would pick Bristol City (who have not won in 22 – that’s right, 22 – games) to have won this one, but wonders will never cease, win they did in a thrilling 2-4 game.

Sean O'Hanlon's bullet header put Carlisle ahead before half-time.

But Sean O'Driscoll's side hit back with two goals in two minutes from top scorer Emmanuel-Thomas, and Scott Wagstaff's volley made it 3-1.

Liam Noble's powerful drive pulled one back for the hosts but the ex-Arsenal forward Emmanuel-Thomas fired in his third to earn City their first three points since 9^th March.  Yep. You read that right – 9^th March!

Notts County vs Preston North End – Draw – Naw

This is the first match of our five where I actually thought The Grambler had got it wrong.  Okay, so I got it right, but it isn’t my predictions we are having a punt on, so I have no thoughts of smugness.  The team sane people would have expected to win did win 0-1.  End of.

The aftermath of this game is that Chris Kiwomya has parted company with Notts County after only eight months as the boss.

Kiwomya took temporary charge of the side in February after the departure of Keith Curle and was given a three-year contract in March.  Since taking charge he has presided over 34 games and has the rather poor record of 9 wins, 9 draws and 16 losses.

Saturday’s defeat leaves Notts bottom of the table, with just two wins this season.

Port Vale vs Gillingham – Draw - Naw

Here we go again.  I agreed with The Grambler on this one, but that went for nothing as the in form team won, Port Vale winning the encounter 2-1.  I really thought Gillingham would have got a point here, but hey ho, such is life. 

Danny Kedwell put the visitors in front early on after he nodded in Amine Linganzi's left-wing delivery.

Port Vale equalised after the break when Carl Dickinson flicked on Chris Lines' corner for Chris Robertson to easily bury a close-range header.

Tom Pope then headed onto Dickinson's right-hand cross to snatch the winner for Vale midway into the second half.

Mansfield Town vs Plymouth Argyle – Away –  Aye

And finally Cyril?  And finally Esther The Grambler gets one right.  Too late!  Strangely, it is another of those games that ‘any sane person’ would have predicted to go the way of the team performing the better this season – Mansfield Town.  But no, a last minute goal from Trotman gave Plymouth the points.  I bet the home support was beeling!

To conclude, this is the last Sober October bet.  So I thought it would be fitting to check on Dougie, the local drunkard, to see how he had fared in his attempt at abstinence through the month.  So, Dougie, how did you get on?

‘Kin’ brilliant!  Ah gied up the Buckie fur the hale month.  An’ ah never realised wit ah’d been missing!  There’s Special Brew, cider, sherry, cheap voddie….Ah’m telling ye. ‘Kin’ brilliant!!’

We’ll take that as not very well.