It's also a weekend that has seen Burnley go into the festive season in the top half of the league and it is interesting to note that we are now just two points behind the undisciplined Brighton & Hove Albion who, incredibly, this week appealed the red card shown to Ashley Barnes.
You can't trust the FA these days, certainly not after they themselves had ludicrously appealed the Wayne Rooney red card, but common sense prevailed and Barnes will serve a three match ban along with Romain Vincelot.
Back with the top two and there's a big difference in how they've picked up their points. Southampton have dropped only one point in 11 home games whilst West Ham have already lost 13 points at home whilst having the best away record in the league. I believe West Ham will go on and win this league and I think it only needs a tightening up of results at home to achieve it.
Down at the bottom of the league and we could be sparing a thought for Coventry City. They are now eight points from safety and the club is in turmoil. They are owned by SISU who are, it seems, a Championship equivalent of Venky's.
Protests and organised demonstrations are being organised although the nonsense that is Ken Dulieu is at an end. He resigned his position as chairman recently and appointed himself as director of football. That, he believed, entitled him to go into the dressing room pre-match and take his place in the dug out against the wishes of manager Andy Thorn.
His reward for that was the sack, but the whole thing shows just what a mess this club is now in. I wouldn't back against them going down and it now looks only a matter of who with. Doncaster and Nottingham Forest are currently in the bottom three with them. Who Doncaster bring in on loan in January might decide their fate whilst I think there could be a scramble to avoid that last place.
Forest are in trouble. They've reported serious financial problems as have Birmingham City. There isn't going to be much money around for strengthening in January, except at Leicester of course where Nigel Pearson has been given the bottomless pit that was wasted by the money grabbing Swede until recently.
I'm sure I'll be miles out but I think West Ham will win the league with Middlesbrough going up in second and I'll back Leicester to win the play offs. As for going down. I'll go for Coventry, Doncaster and Millwall although Bristol City will have their work cut out if they don't get a replacement for Nicky Maynard who has now been placed on the transfer list.
Source: FOOTYMAD
