Newcastle United can certainly put themselves forward as the surprise package of the Premier League so far this season.
Some astute Alan Pardew signings coupled with an impressive unbeaten run have left the Magpies sitting comfortably in the top echelons of the league.
Here, Sports Mole inspects the Geordie's eye-opening campaign so far.
August
Arsenal were held to a stalemate on the opening day at St James' Park before a trademark Ryan Taylor free kick claimed a priceless win at local rivals Sunderland the following week.
2-1 victories against Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup and Fulham in the league followed, with Pardew's men yet to really hit their full stride.
September
Another clean sheet was recorded following the international break in a goalless draw at QPR before an extra-time win in the league cup at Nottingham Forest.
Amazingly, summer signing Demba Ba didn't net for the Magpies until the final game of September but when he did it was a hat-trick in a 3-1 triumph over lowly Blackburn Rovers.
October
The French-born Senegalese international was at it again in the win at Wolves and draw with Spurs as Newcastle continued their undefeated start, while another influential signing, Yohan Cabaye, sealed the points against Wigan.
The North East side did lose out to Blackburn in the Carling Cup after another extra-time affair before Ba again ended the month with a hat-trick in the difficult away trip to Stoke.
November
A 2-1 win at home to Everton ensured November began in much the similar vein before they faced their toughest test at table-toppers Manchester City, who were the only other unbeaten side in the league.
Inevitably Roberto Mancini's men were too strong at home and came through 3-1. The Magpies' next fixture was again in Manchester at the equally tough United, but this time they secured a courageous point thanks again to Ba.
December
The fixture list threw up another tricky encounter when Chelsea visited and suddenly Newcastle's defence didn't look so sure as Andre Villas-Boas's men eased to a 3-0 victory.
Despite Ba again scoring more than once at Norwich in the next game, the Canaries compounded Newcastle's misery with a 4-2 win.
A 0-0 draw with patient Swansea and a home defeat to in-form West Brom was next as Pardew's men continued their slide out of the top six.
Goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and another from Ba at Bolton ensured Christmas wasn't completely gloomy on Tyneside.
In spite of the slide out of the top four Pardew will be without doubt delighted with where his side sit at the turn of the year. The Magpies are seventh, one point off Liverpool but five clear of Stoke in eighth. Premier League football next year seems all but guaranteed.
The inspired Ba is currently second in the Premier League's goalscoring charts, only bettered by the relentless Robin van Persie.
What will worry Pardew is the defensive injury woes he is currently experiencing, with the rocksolid Steven Taylor already declared absent for the whole campaign.
Pascal Lemesre
