Features

Magpies leading the way

Author: John Harris
Date: 16/11/2009
Football betting

Newcastle United fans may still have to endure owner Mike Ashley's idiosyncrasies but at least they can enjoy seeing their side at the top of the Championship table after more than a third of the season.

Just three months ago that seemed an unlikely scenario with some doom-mongers even suggesting a club that was up for sale, managerless and with a host of big-name players who didn't really want to be on Tyneside, would be closer to the bottom of the table than the top.

Off-pitch matters have barely improved with Ashley's bizarre public relations record hitting a new low last week when he re-named the club's ground the sportsdirect.com@St James' Park Stadium.

But if Newcastle, the joint online betting favourites to win the Championship title, can be two points clear at the top of the table despite their off-pitch disarray, what does that say about the rest of the division?

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They have managed to lose at Scunthorpe United, Nottingham Forest and Blackpool and have looked far from impressive at times but, even without a senior striker following Shola Ameobi's injury, they are on course to secure promotion.

Of the other relegated teams, West Brom look set to continue their yo-yo reputation by also making the quickest possible return to the top-flight, but Middlesbrough have endured a rockier time.

After being criticised for axing Gareth Southgate after they had just beaten Derby County, Boro appointed Gordon Strachan and promptly lost to Plymouth Argyle and Crystal Palace as they slipped to tenth in the table.

The sight of Cardiff City, QPR, Bristol City, Nottingham Forest and Swansea City in the top ten is not too much of a surprise, but Blackpool's appearance in fifth is certainly raising a few eyebrows.

Ian Holloway is working on a shoestring budget at Bloomfield Road - only Scunthorpe United are believed to have a smaller wage bill in the Championship - but he has managed to guide his side into a play-off place, thanks largely to an unbeaten home record.

Charlie Adam, Ben Burgess and Jason Euell have all played their part in the Seasiders' superb start, which has been in sharp contrast to the travails that fans of Reading and Ipswich Town have had to endure.

Only Peterborough United, who bizarrely parted company with Darren Ferguson this month after he had guided them to successive promotions, are currently below two teams that harboured genuine hopes of going up this season.

It has certainly been a topsy-turvy first three months of the season, in sharp contrast to the more predictable fare currently being served up in the Premier League.

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