Week 12 Results - Why Hull City are unique

Once again I have to report to you good people out in Gramblerland that The Grambler well and truly bollocksed it up this week.  I mean, how could he/she/it possibly expect Kilmarnock to win against the mighty ‘Well?  But that isn’t the only score The Grambler got abysmally wrong.  Oh no. Read on…

 

Hull vs Crystal Palace – Prediction: Away win – Yay!

Result - Hull 0 Crystal Palace 1

New Palace Boss Tony Pulis signed a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier on Saturday but caretaker Keith Millen took charge for a final time as the Welshman watched from the stands.

Yannick Sagbo missed a chance to put the hosts ahead before Palace’s Yannick Bolasie was red-carded for a foul on Jake (not Yannick?) Livermore with 12 minutes left.

Moments later Barry Bannan scored the winner from close range.

Bannan's goal was Palace's first since a 4-1 home defeat by Fulham on the 21^st of October.

Hull had only conceded once in a five-game unbeaten home run going into the match, while Palace had lost their previous five away from Selhurst Park.

Victory for Palace means they move off the bottom of the Premier League while Hull dropped to 13th.

This was the first match to be played at the KC Stadium since owner Assem Allam reaffirmed his intention to rename the club Hull Tigers and midway through the first period a group of Hull fans unfurled a banner reading 'We are Hull City'.  Let’s hope he never gets his way.  Hull is unique.  If they became Hull Tigers they would lose the very reason for that uniqueness.  You know what it is.  You do.  Don’t pretend you don’t know.  Hull City is the only team in the British senior game that hasn’t got any letters you can colour in.  You were given that information in this very column last season.  What do you mean, you can't remember?  Any road up, Hull City; listen to The Grambler.  Do not change your name.  Stay unique.

Rotherham vs Carlisle United – Prediction Away win – Naw!

Result - Rotherham 0 Carlisle United 0

 

Rotherham failed to score at home and could not find a way past a determined Carlisle side, who played the entire second half with 10 men but held on for a 0-0 draw.
The Millers started brightly and Matt Tubbs set up Kieran Agard after just two minutes but his shot whistled just wide of the post.
But after 34 minutes it took a great save by Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin to deny Carlisle. Matty Robson got in a great cross and Sean O'Hanlon's powerful header looked destined for the back of the net but Collin somehow turned it away for a corner.
The Cumbrians were reduced to 10 men seconds before half-time. Townsend was booked for a foul on Richard Brindley and then in added time his late tackle on Tubbs earned him a second yellow.
But despite 45 minutes of almost constant pressure, Rotherham could not find a way through the visitors' defence, even though their goal did lead something of a charmed life - Max Ehmer and Robson cleared off the line, Ben Amos saved from substitute Tom Eaves and Tubbs fired into the side  netting.  Carlisle hung on desperately for a thoroughly deserved point.

 

Plymouth Argyle vs Dagenham & Redbridge – Prediction: Away win – NAW!

Result - Plymouth Argyle 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 1

John Sheridan's Plymouth Argyle made it seven games unbeaten in all competitions with an impressive 2-1 win over Dagenham at Home Park.

Plymouth's on-loan Yeovil Town striker Reuben Reid - who hit an FA Cup hat-trick in midweek - scored a cracking 44th-minute solo opener.

In a half of limited chances, Reid carved out his own opportunity, running at Dagenham before letting fly with a right-footed 20-yard strike that flew past diving Daggers keeper Chris Lewington and in off the inside of the post.

Argyle's joy was shortlived as the visitors responded within a minute as danger man Zavon Hines made the most of a mix-up in the home defence, and a slip by marker Maxine, sorry, Maxime Blanchard, to slot home from a few yards out.

Plymouth’s Luke Young scored with a spectacular 77th-minute free-kick from outside the area on the right, though, after man of the match Reid had been tumbled on his way to goal.

Kilmarnock vs Motherwell – Prediction: Home win – NAW!! (but Yay! really)

Result - Kilmarnock 0 Motherwell 2

In the interests of impartiality, I have used someone else’s match report for this game.

Kilmarnock set the early pace and created the first real chance when Chris Johnston won a free-kick and Sammy Clingan put in a fine cross but Manuel Pascali could only head straight at Gunnar Nielsen.

But Motherwell soon found their rhythm with Craig Moore shooting just over the bar and Iain Vigurs failing to get enough on a James McFadden cross to test Craig Samson in the Killie goal.

Had Moore brought his shooting boots, 'Well could have led 3-0 inside the opening 30 minutes but two more golden chances were passed up by the young striker.

Samson produced a superb save to keep out John Sutton's powerful header and the busy Moore had another effort deflected wide, but ‘Well keeper Nielsen had to be alert to deny Kris Boyd what would have been an undeserved opener for Kilmarnock.

Moore played provider for Lionel Ainsworth just after the break but the winger dragged his shot wide, but Motherwell finally took the lead on 55 minutes when Vigurs put over a cross and Sutton's diving header crept past Samson.

Killie responded quickly and almost levelled moments later when Michael Gardyne tested Nielsen's reflexes and no-one managed to get on the end of a wicked Craig Slater cross.

Boyd was left kicking himself with 25 minutes remaining, heading a deep cross over the bar from six yards when he would normally have backed himself to score.

The home side continued to press and sub Rory McKenzie fired a shot just wide of goal before Pascali headed a corner straight at a suddenly busy Nielsen.

But the points were settled in the 89th minute when sub Anier, who had replaced the luckless Moore 10 minutes earlier, spun past Pascali and toe-poked the ball past Samson.

The result lifts Motherwell above Aberdeen into third place and leaves Kilmarnock stuck in the relegation play-off place.

I will just finish with the words…Ya f****** beauty!!!

 

Raith Rovers vs Queen of the South – Prediction: Draw – NAWWW!!!

Result - Raith Rovers 2 Queen of the South 1

 

Calum Elliot scored twice as Raith Rovers came from behind to beat Scottish Championship rivals Queen of the South.

Gavin Reilly broke the deadlock in the second half when his right-footed strike found the top corner.

But Elliot levelled with a curling shot shortly after Raith had fallen behind.  Elliot secured victory for the hosts late on with a low shot from 12 yards, the result taking Raith to within five points of leaders Hamilton.

There you have it fellow gramblers; only one prediction of the five came good.  So, once again, there is no money to put into the Bobby Moore Fund (other than the stake money which, win or lose, I always put in).  If you feel like it, you can also put money into the fund. All you have to do is go to http://www.justgiving.com/Geraldine-Smith3 and make that donation.  Even if you don’t want to make a donation, it is worth going to just to read the story of Stewart David Smith - the founder of the wonderful blog that is The Grambler - who lost his life to bowel cancer on August the 29^th this year.  You can also keep up to date with all the fundraising activities by going to https://www.facebook.com/kickcancerfund .

 

To finish, I will say that this week’s poor showing is but a blip. The Grambler will pick those five correct results before long.  I’m sure of it.  Don’t despair my fine grambling buddies.  Keep the faith.  It will happen.  Some day.  Soon.  I hope.  Bound to.  Surely.