PREMIER LEAGUE
Table at 27/12/2011
Original prediction blog
1 MANCHESTER CITY P18-W14-D3-L1 F53/A15
Pts 45
Manager: Roberto Mancini (since December 2009)
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero (13)
League Cup: Semi final v Liverpool on 11 January (H) and 25 January (A)
FA Cup: Third Round v Manchester United (H) on 8 January
Europe: Knocked out of Champions League in Group stage; Europa League last 32 tie v Porto on 16 February (A) and 6 March (H)
Verdict: Manchester City's five-point lead from just four games ago may have already been wiped out but, on the basis of the first half of the season as a whole, it is fair to say that the Blue Moon is still in the ascendancy. Roberto Mancini's men have a perfect home record with nine wins out of nine while the 6-1 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford will live long in the memory of City fans. Mancini has estimated that 90 points will be required in order for a team to win the league this season and City will be pleased to have made it halfway there having been well off the pace in the last two years. Better still, following the visits of Liverpool and Tottenham to Eastlands in January, City play only one other top-six team, Chelsea - again at home, in their next nine fixtures. A blistering bit of form in those games, similar to the start of this campaign when they dropped only two points from the opening 12 matches, would surely open up another gap. It would then be a case of the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva just holding their nerve in the final stretch for City to win their first league title since 1968.
Original prediction: 2nd
2 MANCHESTER UNITED P18-W-14-D3-L1 F47/A14
Pts 45
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (since November 1986)
Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (13)
League Cup: lost 1-2 aet in Quarter finals v Crystal Palace (H)
FA Cup: Third Round v Manchester City (A) on 8 January
Europe: Knocked out of Champions League in Group stage; Europa League last 32 tie v Ajax Amsterdam on 16 February (A) and 23 February (H)
Verdict: Never write off Manchester United is surely the lesson borne out of almost 20 years of Premier League football. From one perspective, this first half of the season could easily be considered one of the poorest by a Sir Alex Ferguson's side. A blinding start, capped by an 8-2 humbling of Arsenal, was brought to an abrupt halt by a 6-1 thrashing from noisy neighbours City. Worse still, the Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage despite what looked to be, on the face of it, a pretty easy group. However, since that horrible afternoon against City at Old Trafford, United have won eight and drawn one of their last nine, completely eradicating their rival's lead. The Red Devils were once beaten 5-0 by Newcastle and 6-3 by Southampton in the space of a week in the autumn of 1996 - but they still went on to win the league the following May. City may have the resources again in January but United know from experience that it will be the squeaky bottom time in April and May which will decide the destination of the title.
Original prediction: Champions
3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR P17-W12-D2-L3 F34/A19
Pts 38
Manager: Harry Redknapp (since October 2008)
Top scorer: Emmanuel Adebayor (9)
League Cup: lost 6-7 on penalties after a 0-0 draw v Stoke City (A) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Cheltenham Town (H) on 7 January
Europe: Knocked out of Europa League in Group stage
Verdict: Since heavy defeats to the two Manchester clubs in their first two fixtures of this season, Spurs have been nothing short of exemplary in the league. Indeed, in their last 15 league games respectively, Tottenham have picked up more points than both of the teams currently above them, a sequence which has prompted Harry Redknapp to claim the Londoners are in the thick of the title race. That may be true if Spurs make good on their game in hand against Everton in January to close the gap to four points but, even then, it is still a tough ask. Anyway, presumably Tottenham's primary aim is reprise their top-four finish from 2009-10 and, in that respect, things are looking good. For, if the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Scott Parker continue their form into the New Year, then a potential eight point gap to fifth-placed Arsenal is very healthy indeed.
Original prediction: 5th
4 CHELSEA P18-W10-D4-L4 F36/A21
Pts 34
Manager: Andre Villas-Boas (since June 2011)
Top scorer: Daniel Sturridge (9)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Liverpool (H) in Quarter finals
FA Cup: Third Round v Portsmouth (H) on 8 January
Europe: Champions League last 16 tie v Napoli on 21 February (A) and 14 March (H)
Verdict: Chelsea slipped 11 points behind the leaders after a third successive 1-1 draw since their momentous victory over Manchester City on 12 December. That 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge closed the gap to the leaders to seven points, a reasonable margin after a difficult autumn which had featured three defeats out of four in the league against QPR, Arsenal and Liverpool. Consecutive 3-0 wins in the league over Wolves and Newcastle, along the victory over City and qualification for the Champions League knockout stage with a win over Valencia, seemed to have put the Blues back on track. But those 1-1 draws against Wigan, Tottenham and Fulham have put the pressure back on 34-year-old manager Andre Villas-Boas. Certainly, the Portuguese seems have to little faith in £50m Spaniard Fernando Torres, regularly demoting him to the bench - something which has presumably contributed to the startling stat that Torres has still scored more goals for Liverpool in this calendar year (four) than he has for Chelsea (three). Another recently-acquired Spaniard, Juan Mata, has looked more impressive, along with the ever-improving youngster Daniel Sturridge but the fact is that Chelsea are not winning nearly enough games to make a proper challenge this season.
Original prediction: 3rd
5 ARSENAL P18-W10-D3-L5 F34/A26
Pts 33
Manager: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996)
Top scorer: Robin van Persie (16)
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Manchester City (H) in Quarter finals
FA Cup: Third Round v Leeds United (H) on 9 January
Europe: Champions League last 16 tie v AC Milan on 15 February (A) and 6 March (H)
Verdict: Arsenal frustrated their fans at the Emirates again, failing to take advantage of Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Fulham after achieving the same result against Wolves. Victory in yesterday's game would have taken Arsenal back into the top four but the fact that they are even so close is remarkable considering their dreadful start of just seven points from their opening seven fixtures. A creaky defence was conceding goals for fun with eight shipped at Manchester United, four at Blackburn, and a 2-1 derby defeat suffered at White Hart Lane. But, following the Tottenham defeat, Arsene Wenger's men put together a run of seven wins and a draw as Thomas Vermaelen returned from injury to shore up the back line and Robin van Persie continued his incredible goalscoring record in 2011. Despite a recent 1-0 defeat at title chasers Manchester City, the Gunners seem to have got over the worst of their blip and should challenge for a Champions League spot, barring their almost-traditional late-season collapse.
Original prediction: 6th
6 LIVERPOOL P18-W8-D7-L3 F21/A14
Pts 31
Manager: Kenny Dalglish (since January 2011)
Top scorer: Luis Suarez (5)
League Cup: Semi final v Manchester City on 11 January (A) and 25 January (H)
FA Cup: Third Round v Oldham Athletic (H) on 6 January
Verdict: Well, there has not quite been a Roy Hodgson-style meltdown but, in truth, it is little better than that for Kenny Dalglish. The Reds may be unbeaten at Anfield but home draws against Norwich, Sunderland, Swansea and Blackburn - and a dreadful recent 0-0 away to Wigan - have left them 14 points adrift of the two Manchester clubs at the halfway stage. Surely Liverpool fans would have expected to make a better fist of it after spending upwards of £80m - £30m more than the Torres money - on overhauling their team. But, instead, with Steven Gerrard battling injury, the Reds have looked scarily dependant upon Luis Suarez to create and score, and they may well struggle for goals if his appeal against an eight-match ban for his racist abuse against Patrice Evra fails, as expected. Indeed, it seems that the Anfield faithful will have to be content with another appearance in the Europa League and nothing more next season.
Original prediction: 4th
7 NEWCASTLE UNITED P18-W8-D6-L4 F25/A22
Pts 30
Manager: Alan Pardew (since December 2010)
Top scorer: Demba Ba (14)
League Cup: lost 3-4 aet v Blackburn Rovers (A) in Fourth Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Blackburn Rovers (H) on 7 January
Verdict: Newcastle got back on track after a six-game winless run by finishing strongly to snatch a 2-0 win over struggling Bolton in what had been a frankly insipid match until the hour mark. However, earlier in the season, the Magpies had proven to be a total revelation, shrugging off the loss of Joey Barton, Jose Enrique and Kevin Nolan in the summer to storm up the league on the back of an 11-match unbeaten start. 'Easy fixtures' came the cry from the detractors but, even though the undefeated streak ended at City, the following week saw Pardew's men emerge from Old Trafford with a creditable point. It was only in the next match against Chelsea that things started to go wrong as Newcastle lost both of their centre-backs, Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini, to injury. Three goals were leaked to the Blues, four against Norwich and a further three at home to West Brom. At the other end, free signing Demba Ba has been instrumental in the Magpies' surge but the Senegalese striker has scored more than half of Newcastle's league goals and, at times, the team is worrying reliant on him, a matter likely to be exacerbated by his appearance at the African Nations Cup in January. Nevertheless, with 30 points by the turn of the year, Newcastle have given themselves a great platform to finish comfortably in the top half of the table by the end of the season.
Original prediction: 13th
8 STOKE CITY P18-W7-D4-L7 F18/A28
Pts 25
Manager: Tony Pulis (since June 2006)
Top scorers: Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters (4)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Liverpool (H) in Fourth Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Gillingham (A) on 7 January
Europe: Europa League last 32 tie v Valencia on 16 February (H) and 23 February (A)
Verdict: Stoke continue to confound the critics, collecting enough points in the first half of this season to make another push for Europe in the New Year - and through the league this time rather than the cup. However, despite some relatively heavy recent investment, the Potters remain to my eyes much like the Wimbledon teams of the 1990s. Certainly, anyone who had the misfortune to watch the dire 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Boxing Day will struggle to subscribe to the view that Stoke's football has progressed in any way since their promotion in 2008. Liable to the odd beating - a 5-0 revenge defeat by Bolton and 4-0 drubbing at Sunderland contributing to a dreadful goal difference for a top-eight side - Tony Pulis' men have nevertheless cobbled more than enough narrow wins, including impressive victories over Liverpool and Tottenham at home, to remain a threat to the top six for now. Better still for Potters fans, City are now winning abroad as well with a convincing Europa League group phase rewarded with a tie against Valencia. Glorious times for the Staffordshire club, then, but it is unlikely the likes of Danny Blanchflower would have ever paid to watch them.
Original prediction: 7th
9 WEST BROMWICH ALBION P18-W6-D4-L8 F19/A26
Pts 22
Manager: Roy Hodgson (since February 2011)
Top scorer: Shane Long (5)
League Cup: lost 1-2 aet v Everton (A) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Cardiff City (H) on 7 January
Verdict: It has been a very merry late December at the Hawthorns with the Baggies taking seven points out of nine with successive away wins against Blackburn and Newcastle, and a fine rearguard action in the 0-0 home draw against leaders Manchester City. The streak has lifted West Brom into the top half of the table as manager Roy Hodgson continues to rebuild his own reputation following a horrible few months at Liverpool last year. With the pace of Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long up front, it is perhaps no surprise West Brom do so well away with four of their six league wins coming on the road this season. But, except for a thoroughly enjoyable 2-0 win over Wolves in October, it has so far been a different story at the Hawthorns. In fairness, seven of their remaining 10 fixtures at home are against teams currently below them in the table, and so, it seems obvious to point out that an upturn in fortunes in front of their own supporters will be the key to the Baggies improving on last season's 11th-placed finish.
Original prediction: 10th
10 EVERTON P17-W6-D4-L8 F19/A21
Pts 22
Manager: David Moyes (since March 2002)
Top scorers: Apostolos Vellios, Leon Osman (3)
League Cup: lost 1-2 aet v Chelsea (H) in Fourth Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Tamworth (H) on 7 January
Verdict: Everton made their customary slow start again in 2011/12, losing five games out of six between the end of September and the start of November in admittedly tough fixtures. Though Moyes' men have made a modest recovery to move into the top half, recent 1-0 defeats to Stoke City and Arsenal mean the Toffees have unusually failed to get even a single point in the seven fixtures against teams above them in the table. The lack of goals is the main worry, with top scorers Vellios and Osman on just three for the season and, though the Toffees normally ally their slow start with a storming second half of the season, the Merseysiders are already well off the European spots and show no signs of a real resurgence. Indeed, Moyes may finish the season considering he can do no more given the limited backing in the transfer market.
Original prediction: 9th
11 NORWICH CITY P18-W5-D6-L7 F27/A33
Pts 21
Manager: Paul Lambert (since August 2009)
Top scorer: Grant Holt (7)
League Cup: lost 0-4 v Milton Keynes Dons (H) in Second Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Burnley (H) on 7 January
Verdict: Who would have thought approaching the halfway stage that Norwich City would be the sixth top scorers in the Premier League? Well, actually, the Canaries' scoring record should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed their dramatic rise through the divisions. Norwich were the top scorers in their league in both of their promotions in the last two years, even though they finished runners-up to QPR last season. In particular, Grant Holt has not been fazed as Norwich have proved more than capable of competing in the top flight, securing a seven-point buffer above the relegation zone with some fine results including away 1-1 draws at both Merseyside clubs and a 4-2 beating of Newcastle at Carrow Road. Indeed, Paul Lambert's men could be looking at a mid-table finish if they continue in the same vein or somehow tighten up a defence which has yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season. But the leaky backline is a rare negative for Norwich fans who must still be rubbing their eyes in wonderment just 28 months on from a humiliating 7-1 home defeat to Colchester United.
Original prediction: 16th
12 ASTON VILLA P18-W4-D8-L6 F19/A23
Pts 20
Manager: Alex McLeish (since June 2011)
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor, Darren Bent (5)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Bolton Wanderers (H) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Bristol Rovers (A) on 7 January
Verdict: Villa served up another insipid display in the televised Boxing Day bore draw against Stoke City, leaving the Midlanders with just 19 goals from their first 18 Premier League matches this season. Manager Alex McLeish took Villa's city rivals Birmingham City down in the last campaign with a similar ironically-named safety-first style last season and, while that fate should not befall the Villains, the fans should not expect a particularly thrilling ride in the rest of the campaign. Four home defeats already will have done little to quell the fans' general disgruntlement with McLeish's appointment, though six draws away out of nine suggests Villa do possess the necessary mettle to stay out of real danger. A team which can call upon the likes of Bent and N'Zogbia up front and on the wing should be doing more than just that every season, though.
Original prediction: 8th
13 FULHAM P18-W4-D7-L7 F19/A24
Pts 19
Manager: Martin Jol (since June 2011)
Top scorer: Clint Dempsey (6)
League Cup: lost 3-4 on penalties after 0-0 draw v Chelsea (A) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Charlton Athletic (H) on 7 January
Europe: Knocked out of Europa League in Group stage
Verdict: Outside of the newly-promoted clubs, Fulham are perhaps most relieved to see the Lancashire trio of Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn struggling so badly. For, even at this relatively early stage of the season, Martin Jol's men have already played 33 league and cup games so far in this campaign thanks to their involvement in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League. That campaign ended in heartbreaking style as Danish side Odense scored in the 93rd minute to knock Fulham out at the group stage in the last game, preventing a reprise of their run to the Final in 2010. It remains to be seen what exact effect the early start will have on the legs of the Cottagers' players but fans will undoubtedly be glad of the current five-point buffer to 18th place just in case. In reality, the likes of top scorer Dempsey show more than enough flashes of brilliant to keep the Londoners out of real danger, as demonstrated in their recent 2-0 home win over Fulham and 6-0 thumping of QPR.
Original prediction: 13th
14 SWANSEA CITY P18-W4-D7-L7 F17/A22
Pts 19
Manager: Brendan Rogers (since July 2010)
Top scorer: Danny Graham (6)
League Cup: lost 1-3 v Shrewsbury Town (A) in Second Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Barnsley (A) on 7 January
Verdict: Swansea City have stuck to their principles since their arrival in the Premier League with a strong home record built on defensive foundations allied with a passing style which is easy on the eye. At the Liberty Stadium, the plan has so far undoubtedly worked - in fact, the Swans have the best home defensive record in the division, having conceded just three times. On the road, though, Brendan Rogers' men have struggled, with excellent 0-0 draws at Liverpool and Newcastle papering over the fact that they have taken just three points from 27 overall. A word of warning on the home record, too - of the current top seven, only Manchester United have visited the Liberty so far this season, and they won. Defeats at home in the second half of the campaign to the other top sides along with continuing poor away form would see the Swans head back from whence they came. Rogers' men need to break their away duck sharpish.
Original prediction: 19th
15 SUNDERLAND P18-W4-D6-L8 F22/A22
Pts 18
Manager: Martin O'Neill (since December 2011)
Top scorer: Sebastian Larsson (5)
League Cup: lost 0-1 aet v Brighton & Hove Albion (A) in Second Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Peterborough United (A) on 8 January
Verdict: The Steve Bruce era at the Stadium of Light finally arrived at its inevitable unhappy ending as the plastic Geordie won the Premier League sack race following a woeful home defeat to Wigan. Bruce may have led the Black Cats to their third-highest placing in 55 years with last season's finish of 10th but that campaign also featured a 5-1 mauling from Newcastle. After the Magpies began 2011/12 with another derby victory, it was clear that Bruce's days were numbered. And, though he stumbled on for three more months by picking up a win every now and then, Black Cats fans were relieved to see him replaced with the Sunderland-supporting Martin O'Neill. The Northern Irishman had made a reasonable start with victories against Blackburn at home and QPR away, and it looks as if the former Celtic and Leicester boss should steer Sunderland comfortably to safety.
Original prediction: 11th
16 QUEENS PARK RANGERS P18-W4-D5-L9 F18/A32
Pts 17
Manager: Neil Warnock (since March 2010)
Top scorer: Heidar Helguson (7)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Rochdale (H) in Second Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Milton Keynes Dons (A) on 7 January
Verdict: It could be a long winter at Loftus Road with Queens Park Rangers hovering uneasily above the drop zone as the season heads into the New Year. That Rangers have taken just five points from their last nine games gives even more cause for concern with Neil Warnock's men having hit their worst form of the campaign just as the games come thick and fast. A lack of goals at home - less than one per game - have contributed to a poor record in Shepherd's Bush of just one win and four draws from nine games. That victory may have come against west London rivals Chelsea but it will count for little if the season ends in relegation. For, without even half-decent home form, promoted clubs cannot survive and Warnock knows he will need reinforcements in the January transfer window. A bit of assistance for Heidar Helguson up front is what will be required with Jay Bothroyd, Adel Taarabt and even Joey Barton flattering to deceive.
Original prediction: 18th
17 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS P18-W4-D4-L10 F20/A33
Pts 16
Manager: Mick McCarthy (since July 2006)
Top scorer: Stephen Fletcher (7)
League Cup: lost 2-5 v Manchester City (H) in Fourth Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Birmingham City (A) on 7 January
Verdict: Wolves find themselves in a worryingly familiar position, sitting just outside the relegation places in 17th at the turn of the year. Of course, Mick McCarthy's men finished exactly there on the last day of last season, coming through Survival Sunday unscathed despite losing 3-2 at home to Blackburn, though in their first season back in the top flight, Wolves did slightly better, finishing 15th. However, now in their third year, it must be questioned how much longer the Molineux club can aim just to survive by the skin of their teeth each year. Of course, Stephen Fletcher scored many a vital goal at the back of the last campaign and has started in the same vein of form this time around. He will undoubtedly remain key to McCarthy keeping Wolves from the relegation trapdoor in May again.
Original prediction: 15th
18 WIGAN ATHLETIC P18-W3-D5-L10 F15/A35
Pts 14
Manager: Roberto Martinez (since June 2009)
Top scorers: Franco di Santo, Jordi Gomez (4)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Crystal Palace (A) in Second Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Swindon Town (A) on 7 January
Verdict: Wigan once again find themselves in relegation trouble thanks mainly to a terrible run of eight consecutive Premier League defeats between September and November. Given their resources, or lack of them, the Latics are always liable to struggle or take a beating but recent victories on the road at Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion, and draws against Chelsea and Liverpool, have suggested that Martinez's men may yet pull off another great escape.
Original prediction: 20th
19 BOLTON WANDERERS P18-W4-D0-L14 F22/A41
Pts 12
Manager: Owen Coyle (since January 2010)
Top scorer: Ivan Klasnic (7)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Arsenal (A) in Fourth Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Macclesfield Town (A) on 7 January
Verdict: Bolton beat Blackburn on 20 December in a bottom-of-the-table clash to leapfrog their Lancashire rivals but it appears to have been a temporary reprieve. For, in the next match against Newcastle, the Trotters went down to their eighth home league defeat out of nine. That dreadful record at the Reebok, combined with the worst defence in the league, leaves Coyle's men with a tough second half to the season. It will only get tougher still if Gary Cahill is allowed to leave.
Original prediction: 14th
20 BLACKBURN ROVERS P18-W2-D5-L11 F25/A39
Pts 11
Manager: Steve Kean (since December 2010)
Top scorer: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (10)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Cardiff City (A) in Quarter finals
FA Cup: Third Round v Newcastle United (A) on 7 January
Verdict: It is just over 12 months since Indian owners the Venkys disposed of the services of Sam Allardyce, and it is fair to say that the move to bring in Steve Kean has not worked out. A pitiful record this season of just two wins, and none away, has left Rovers rooted to the bottom of the pile. Even in those two victories, a thrilling 4-3 win over Arsenal in which both defences were as bad as each other, and a 4-2 win over Swansea in which Yakubu hit all four, Rovers fans protested against Kean. Though the beleaguered boss somehow survived the 2-1 defeat to Bolton, the fans have already decided his time is up. Meanwhile, Blackburn are in such a state off the pitch with the Venkys in charge, they may well end up going down with or without Kean.
Original prediction: 17th
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Table at 26/12/2011
Original prediction blog
SOUTHAMPTON have dropped just two points out of 36 at home to take a three-point lead in the Championship at the halfway stage as they aim to follow Norwich City's recent example in winning successive promotions. WEST HAM UNITED were always going to be there or thereabouts under Sam Allardyce given the talent of their squad in this division but it is a little bit of a surprise to see MIDDLESBROUGH level with the Hammers on 44 points. The Boro have lost just three times in the league all season to build promisingly on the momentum gained by a four-match winning streak at the end of last season.
In fourth place, perennial playoff contenders and League Cup semi-finalists CARDIFF CITY have done well to cope with the loss of Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra and Craig Bellamy with the goals coming instead from Peter Whittingham and Kenny Miller. Similarly, sixth-placed READING have so far filled their Shane Long-sized hole with goals from Simon Church.
HULL CITY, in fifth, seem to have shrugged off the loss of manager Nigel Pearson to Leicester with caretaker manager Nick Barmby winning five of his opening eight games to keep the Tigers in the hunt. And, also hoping for a return to the top flight are BLACKPOOL who are just outside the playoff places in seventh on the back of just one defeat in nine. LEEDS UNITED, in eighth, are slipping back the other way after successive 1-0 defeats to Reading and Derby.
1 SOUTHAMPTON P23-W14-D5-L4 F47/A24
Pts 47
Manager: Nigel Adkins (since September 2010)
Top scorer: Rickie Lambert (15)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Crystal Palace (A) in Fourth Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Coventry City (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 5th
2 WEST HAM UNITED P23-W-13-D5-L5 F38/A21
Pts 44
Manager: Sam Allardyce (since June 2011)
Top scorer: Carlton Cole (7)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Aldershot Town (H) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Sheffield Wednesday (A) on 8 January
Original prediction: Champions
3 MIDDLESBROUGH P23-W12-D8-L3 F29/A19
Pts 44
Manager: Tony Mowbray (since October 2010)
Top scorer: Marvin Emnes (7)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Crystal Palace (A) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Shrewsbury Town (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 6th
4 CARDIFF CITY P23-W10-D9-L4 F37/A26
Pts 39
Manager: Malky Mackay (since June 2011)
Top scorer: Peter Whittingham (7)
League Cup: Semi final v Crystal Palace (A) on 11 January and (H) on 25 January
FA Cup: Third Round v West Bromwich Albion (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 11th
5 HULL CITY P23-W12-D3-L8 F26/A23
Pts 39
Manager: Nick Barmby (since November 2011)
Top scorer: Matty Fryatt (8)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Macclesfield Town (H) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Ipswich Town (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 8th
6 READING P23-W10-D6-L7 F30/A22
Pts 36
Manager: Brian McDermott (since December 2009)
Top scorer: Simon Church (6)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Charlton Athletic (A) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Stevenage (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 9th
7 BLACKPOOL P23-W9-D8-L6 F36/A28
Pts 35
Manager: Ian Holloway (since May 2009)
Top scorer: Kevin Phillips (7)
League Cup: lost 2-4 on penalties after 0-0 v Sheffield Wednesday (A) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Fleetwood Town (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 18th
8 LEEDS UNITED P23-W10-D5-L8 F36/A31
Pts 35
Manager: Simon Grayson (since December 2008)
Top scorer: Ross McCormack (10)
League Cup: lost 0-3 v Manchester United (H) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Arsenal (A) on 9 January
Original prediction: 2nd
All of the clubs in the middle part of the table still hold realistic ambitions of promotion via the playoffs with BURNLEY clearly leading the charge after five wins in their last six league games. Dougie Freedman's CRYSTAL PALACE are 10th but enjoyed their best result of the season outside of the Championship, beating Manchester United 2-1 after extra time at Old Trafford to set up a date with Cardiff City in the semi finals of the League Cup.
Eleventh-placed BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION have faded after a good start in which they won five of their first six games. Gus Poyet's Seagulls have now lost their last three without scoring while one of the promotion favourites, LEICESTER CITY, have flattered to deceive all season. Sven Goran-Eriksson paid for the Foxes' inconsistency with the sack but new manager Nigel Pearson has continued the record of failing to win successive league games all season.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED have recently boosted their prospects of a top-half finish with successive wins over struggling Coventry and Nottingham Forest, both of which were surprisingly just 1-0 given Posh's record of 42 goals scored and 39 conceded. But, in 14th, Nigel Clough's DERBY COUNTY have relinquished their early-season playoff spot after a run of five successive defeats in November.
Meanwhile, Chris Hughton's BIRMINGHAM CITY, who are still unbeaten at St Andrews, could easily storm towards the top six by winning their two games in hand having finally been knocked out of the distraction of the Europa League. And finally, BARNSLEY have already flirted with the playoffs after four successive wins in late November and early December. But, having lost a 2-0 lead at home to Ipswich, ultimately losing 5-3, the Tykes have since been beaten twice more to tumble down to 16th. Nevertheless, this is still just two wins away from sixth.
9 BURNLEY P23-W10-D3-L10 F35/A31
Pts 33
Manager: Eddie Howe (since January 2011)
Top scorer: Charlie Austin (8)
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Cardiff City (A) in Fourth Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Norwich City (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 15th
10 CRYSTAL PALACE P23-W9-D6-L8 F22/A22
Pts 33
Manager: Dougie Freedman (since January 2011)
Top scorer: Glenn Murray (5)
League Cup: Semi final v Cardiff City (H) on 11 January and (A) on 25 January
FA Cup: Third Round v Derby County (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 19th
11 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION P23-W9-D5-L9 F23/A26
Pts 32
Manager: Gus Poyet (since November 2009)
Top scorer: Craig Mackail-Smith (6)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Liverpool (H) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Wrexham (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 10th
12 LEICESTER CITY P23-W8-D7-L8 F30/A26
Pts 31
Manager: Nigel Pearson (since November 2011)
Top scorer: David Nugent (7)
League Cup: lost 6-7 on penalties after 2-2 draw v Cardiff City (A) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Nottingham Forest (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 3rd
13 PETERBOROUGH UNITED P23-W9-D4-L10 F42/A39
Pts 31
Manager: Darren Ferguson (since January 2011)
Top scorer: Grant McCann (8)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Middlesbrough (H) in Second Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Sunderland (H) on 8 January
Original prediction: 21st
14 DERBY COUNTY P23-W9-D4-L10 F27/A32
Pts 31
Manager: Nigel Clough (since January 2009)
Top scorers: Steve Davies, Theo Robinson (5)
League Cup: lost 2-3 v Shrewsbury Town (H) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Crystal Palace (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 20th
15 BIRMINGHAM CITY P21-W8-D6-L7 F27/A24
Pts 30
Manager: Chris Hughton (since June 2011)
Top scorer: Chris Wood (9)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Manchester City (A) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) on 7 January
Europe: Knocked out of the Europa League in Group stage
Original prediction: 4th
16 BARNSLEY P23-W8-D6-L9 F31/A35
Pts 30
Manager: Keith Hill (since June 2011)
Top scorer: Craig Davies (8)
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Morecambe (A) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Swansea City (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 17th
Rooted to the bottom, rudderless COVENTRY CITY had taken just one point out of 24 until their home win on Boxing Day against Bristol City - and even those three points leave the Sky Blues five points adrift of the Robins in 21st. Second-bottom DONCASTER ROVERS have made a similarly poor start though recent home wins over Southampton and Leicester thanks to the goalscoring of Billy Sharp will give the South Yorkshire club hope.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST complete the bottom three and perhaps look the most desperate of the strugglers on current form, having taken just one point of the last six games and failed to score in any of them. The switch from Steve McClaren to Steve Cotterill does not seem to have worked for the twice-European Cup winners who must be worried about a return to the third flight having recently spent three seasons there. At least BRISTOL CITY remain within Forest's grasp after the Robins wrecked a five-game unbeaten run under new manager Derek McInnes, which lifted them away from the bottom, by since remaining winless in the subsequent five games.
MILLWALL, in 20th, and IPSWICH TOWN, in 19th, enjoy five- and six-point gap to the bottom three respectively. But Kenny Jackett's Lions have really struggled without the goals of Steve Morison, now at Norwich, while Paul Jewell's Town are only just recovering from an awful sequence of seven successive league defeats.
Seventeenth-placed PORTSMOUTH and WATFORD, in 18th, are also on 27 points with Ipswich but the Hornets are enjoying a streak of just one defeat in their last 10 league games. Five of the last six have been draws, though, as the Sean Dyche's side continue tentatively after the double summer blow of losing manager Malky Mackay to Cardiff and striker Danny Graham to Swansea.
Pompey may look reasonably safe for now six points clear of the drop but, as ever, the main threat to Michael Appleton's side comes in the form of the administrators and a points deduction after yet more ownership issues.
17 PORTSMOUTH P22-W7-D6-L9 F24/A24
Pts 27
Manager: Michael Appleton (since November 2011)
Top scorers: David Norris, Luke Varney (5)
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Barnet (H) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Chelsea (A) on 8 January
Original prediction: 13th
18 WATFORD P23-W6-D9-L8 F23/A31
Pts 27
Manager: Sean Dyche (since June 2011)
Top scorer: Marvin Sordell (6)
League Cup: lost 2-4 on penalties after 1-1 draw v Bristol Rovers (A) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Bradford City (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 22nd
19 IPSWICH TOWN P22-W8-D3-L11 F33/A43
Pts 27
Manager: Paul Jewell (since January 2011)
Top scorer: Keith Andrews (9)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Northampton Town (H) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Hull City (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 12th
20 MILLWALL P23-W6-D8-L9 F24/A26
Pts 26
Manager: Kenny Jackett (since November 2007)
Top scorer: Darius Henderson (9)
League Cup: lost 0-5 to Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Dagenham & Redbridge (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 16th
21 BRISTOL CITY P23-W5-D6-L12 F21/A34
Pts 21
Manager: Derek McInnes (since October 2011)
Top scorer: Nicky Maynard (7)
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Swindon Town (H) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Crawley Town (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 14th
22 NOTTINGHAM FOREST P23-W6-D3-L14 F18/A37
Pts 21
Manager: Steve Cotterill (since October 2011)
Top scorers: Ishmael Miller, Marcus Tudgay (3)
League Cup: lost 3-4 aet v Newcastle United (H) in Third Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Leicester City (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 7th
23 DONCASTER ROVERS P23-W5-D4-L14 F19/A39
Pts 19
Manager: Dean Saunders (since September 2011)
Top scorer: Billy Sharp (9)
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Leeds United (H) in Second Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Notts County (A) on 7 January
Original prediction: 24th
24 COVENTRY CITY P23-W3-D7-L13 F18/A33
Pts 16
Manager: Andy Thorn (since March 2011)
Top scorer: Lukas Jutkiewicz (8)
League Cup: lost 1-3 v Bury (A) in First Round
FA Cup: Third Round v Southampton (H) on 7 January
Original prediction: 23rd
Verdicts written on 27/12/2011. All statistics correct as of 26-27/12/2011.
