The Glovers are off

Yeovil shot to the top of the early-season table on Saturday after a 4-0 demolition of sorry Scunthorpe.

Keanu Marsh-Brown struck the Glovers’ first-half opener before Reuben Reid doubled the advantage shortly after the break. Reading loanee Gozie Ugwu then put a late gloss on the scoreline, striking twice in the final two minutes to land odds of 5/2 and hand the Somerset side their second successive away victory.

But the Iron’s early misery continues; Alan Knill’s men remain pointless after previous losses at the hands of Crawley and Crewe. They began 2011/12 in similarly miserable form, failing to win in nine matches before a brief upturn in the autumn. Bet Victor make Scunny 9/2 to drop into League Two, a fate they only narrowly avoided last term.

The 2/5 favourites in those stakes – crisis-hit Portsmouth – put up another brave fight at Carlisle on Saturday before eventually going down 4-2 after a frantic late spell.

The Cumbrians were leading 2-0 going into the final minute but Pompey twice reduced the arrears in injury time only to see Paddy Madden strike a killer fourth in the 95th minute.

At the Ricoh Arena, Coventry surrendered a two-goal lead to draw with Bury, a result which prompted Sunday's sacking of boss Andy Thorn.

Meanwhile, Swindon kept their fourth straight clean sheet of the campaign, shutting out MK Dons in a 1-0 success. Matt Ritchie hit the winner for the Robins, who remain unbeaten, while the visitors had a man sent off for the fourth time this term. Skipper Dean Lewington was the player to see red after the previous dismissals of Stephen Gleeson, Anthony Kay and Alan Smith.

Paolo Di Canio’s side are now no longer than 5/1 to take the title, with MK 7/1 third favourites.

Elsewhere, there were away triumphs for Stevenage at Oldham, Crawley at Doncaster and Walsall at Notts County, where the Saddlers landed odds of 17/4 thanks to Andy Butler’s effort ten minutes from time.

Brentford also picked up their first victory of the campaign with a 5-1 demolition of Crewe at Griffin Park. Clayton Donaldson and Farid El Alagui both notched twice for the Bees, who are a best of 7/1 with Bet Victor to win promotion.

Results: Bournemouth 1-1 Preston, Brentford 5-1 Crewe, Carlisle 4-2 Portsmouth, Colchester 1-1 Sheff Utd, Coventry 2-2 Bury, Doncaster 0-1 Crawley, Leyton Orient P-P Hartlepool, Notts County 0-1 Walsall, Oldham 0-1 Stevenage, Scunthorpe 0-4 Yeovil, Shrewsbury 1-1 Tranmere, Swindon 1-0 MK Dons

Back Brentford to win promotion at 7/1