As Richard Jolly looks at the remarkable run of Leicester City, here are five other occasions teams confounded expectation to enjoy successful seasons.
(All from league positions on Nov 27)
Southampton (2014/15, 2nd)
After what seemed a fire sale at St Mary’s in 2014, stripping Southampton of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers and manager Mauricio Pochettino, they were tipped for the drop by some. Instead, they won eight of their first 12 games. They stood second only to Chelsea then. They could not sustain such form and faded to finish seventh, but it was still their best Premier League campaign.
[Predictions: Spurs inflict more misery on Chelsea, Man United knock Leicester off top spot]
West Bromwich Albion (2012/13, 3rd)
It is easy to forget now but Albion were pacesetters three years ago. They had a rookie manager but Steve Clarke’s first game in charge ended in a 3-0 win over his former club Liverpool. He defeated another of his old employers, Chelsea, to help finish off Roberto Di Matteo. He had in-form goalscorers in Peter Odemwingie and Romelu Lukaku. Yet after taking 26 points from their first 13 games, Albion only managed 23 from the next 25. They finished eighth and Clarke was sacked later in 2013.
Wigan Athletic (2005/06, 4th)
Possibly the smallest club promoted to the Premier League, Wigan’s debut campaign was expected to culminate in a swift return to the Championship. Their first two games, which both brought defeat, suggested as much. Then came a run few foresaw. Paul Jewell’s team won eight of their next nine games. They rose as high as second and eventually came 10th. But they showed a capacity to punch above their weight on different fronts by reaching the League Cup final.
['Of course I am worried' admits Louis van Gaal as Man United's goal-soring issues continue]
Ipswich Town (2000/01, 3rd)
Another newly promoted team who confounded expectations. Ipswich actually only won one of their first five league games but ended November in a run of five victories in six games that took them up to third. Forever tipped to tail off, they were the team who did not. They were in the race for Uefa Champions League qualification until the final day of the campaign and finished fifth, aided by Marcus Stewart’s 19 league goals. Instead the slump came the following year, when they were relegated.
Leicester City (2000/01, 4th)
The opposite of Ipswich, in many ways. Leicester were an established top-flight club in 2000, but under a new manager. The catalytic Martin O’Neill left. His replacement, Peter Taylor, began in such style to suggest he was an upgrade. Leicester were top and unbeaten after eight games before meeting Manchester United in what, as now, was a top-of-the-table clash. They were still fourth at the end of November. Yet they ended the season in 13th after losing nine of their last 10 games. Taylor was sacked soon after the start of the following campaign, when Leicester finished last.
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