SAINTS have the weight of recent history firmly behind them as they bid for backto- back promotions this season.

The club entered this weekend’s international break clear at the top of the Championship.

Ten games in, Nigel Adkins’ men have racked up 22 points to reach the summit, leading second-placed Middlesbrough by two points.

And history suggests that there is a strong chance Saints’ impressive opening will result in them going up again.

In the previous 20 seasons, 14 of the teams – almost 75 per cent – who boasted the best record after ten Championship matches went on to win promotion to the top flight.

Only three sides failed to at least make it into the play-offs.

In the past two seasons, QPR and Newcastle led after ten games – and both went on to finish first.

Before them, Birmingham were the early pacesetters and, although they were unable to hold onto top spot, the Blues went up automatically, finishing second.

Ten other sides over the last two decades have gone on to finish in the top two after leading at this stage.

Even if Saints can’t hold onto an automatic spot, the stats suggest they will still be in the thick of the promotion race.

Outside of the 13 who won automatic promotion, a further four went into the playoffs.

Only Leicester, in 1995/96, were successful in winning the post-season tournament, however.

Watford (2007/08) and Wolves (2001/02 and 1994/95) both failed to make it through the play-off lottery.

In 2004/05, Reading held the best record in the second tier after ten games, but missed the top six.

Even then, though, the Royals were right in the hunt to the very end, finishing seventh and just three points off the play-offs.

The season before, Sheffield United slipped from first place to eighth, but were just two points back of the top six.

The only team to have really fallen away in the last 20 years after leading the race at this stage were Dave Jones’ Cardiff, in 2006/07.

The Bluebirds slumped from the summit all the way down to 13th, finishing 11 points back of the play-offs.

HOW THE LEADERS AFTER 10 GAMES HAVE FINISHED

2010/11 QPR 1st 2009/10 Newcastle 1st 2008/09 Birmingham 2nd 2007/08 Watford 6th (lost in play-offs) 2006/07 Cardiff 13th 2005/06 Sheffield United 2nd 2004/05 Reading 7th 2003/04 Sheffield United 8th 2002/03

Pompey

1st 2001/02 Wolves 3rd (lost in play-offs) 2000/01 Fulham 1st 1999/00 Charlton 1st 1998/99 Sunderland 1st 1997/98 Nottingham Forest 1st 1996/97 Bolton 1st 1995/96 Leicester 5th (won play-offs) 1994/95 Wolves 4th (lost play-offs) 1993/94 Crystal Palace 1st 1992/93 Newcastle 1st 1991/92 Middlesbrough 2nd