Lead cut to seven points

Charlton's lead at the top of League 1 has been cut to seven points after Sheffield United beat Notts County 2-1 last night.

Pessimists may also wish to note that MK Dons now top the League 1 form table.   Indeed, they are the club the media have now chosen to drool over with The Times featuring their victory against Leyton Orient.

Addick Richard Pemberton has put together some interesting stats about the team that was top at Christmas in League 1 for the last seven years:

He notes, 'Good news - only two clubs have failed to win promotion having led at the turn of the year and neither had any gap from 3rd place. In 7 of the 10 years, the team leading at the turn of the year has gone on to win the league.'

2011 - with one game to go, Charlton have 51 points from 22 games, with a 9 point lead on 3rd place.
2010 - Brighton had (just) 37 points from 20 games, with a 4 point lead on 3rd place. They finished top on 95 points.
2009 - Leeds had 56 points from 23 games, with an 11 point lead on 3rd place. They finished second on 86 points.   [But only secured 2nd place on the last day of the season]
2008 - Leicester had 51 points from 23 games, with a 7 point lead on 3rd place. They finished top on 96 points.
2007 - Swansea had 43 points from 21 games, with a 6 point lead on 3rd place. They finished top on 92 points.
2006 - Scunthorpe had 48 points from 25 games, with a 3 point lead on 3rd place. They finished top on 91 points.
2005 - Swansea had 43 points from 24 games, leading from 3rd place on GD only. They finished 6th on 71 points.
2004 - Luton had 52 points from 24 games, with a 7 point lead on 3rd place. They finished top on 98 points.
2003- Plymouth had 49 points from 24 games, with a 9 point lead on 3rd place. They finished top on 90 points.
2002 - Wigan had 56 points from 24 games, with a 7 point lead on 3rd place. They finished top on 100 points.
2001 - Bristol City had 47 points from 26 games, with a 1 point lead on 3rd place. They finished 7th on 73 points.

Chris Powell has pointed out that we are not yet halfway through the season and clearly there are no grounds for complacency with two London derbies coming up.    However, even the Bloke Behind Me is going to find it difficult to construct a gloomy narrative from our current position.