So we are a third of the way through the League One season and the table is beginning to take shape. There have been shocks, managerial changes aplenty and lots of goals and excitement in what is widely regarded as the most competitive third tier in years.

Of course as a Leeds United fan I am delighted with the start to the season. One defeat in 15 games, with the best attack and defence in the league and seven points clear, you can’t really complain.

The new signings have been terrific and Simon Grayson continues to impress as Leeds boss. The find of the season has to be Paddy Kisnorbo – he has been immense and should really have been considered for a PFA award.

Moving forward, I expect us to push on from now until Christmas with some relatively comfortable fixtures coming up.

The chasing pack

Of the teams up there at the moment, I see Norwich City as our nearest challengers. They got off to the worst possible start with a 7-1 reverse at home to Colchester United but slowly recovered under new boss Paul Lambert and are in great form now, just four points off an automatic promotion place. They are the best team we have faced so far and will take some stopping if they hit top form.

Charlton got off to a great start but there form has dipped of late. I think they will struggle to keep up with Leeds and will drop out of the top two in the coming weeks.

MK Dons have picked up where they left off last season and have the ability to go the distance again.

Colchester United shrugged off the loss of Lambert and are keeping pace with the teams at the top, with an almost perfect home record. However, as we have seen with Oldham Athletic and Leyton Orient in recent seasons, it is difficult to maintain a promotion challenge with a lack of strength in depth.

Huddersfield Town, one of the teams tipped for the title, have had an indifferent start to the season, with an excellent home record and a terrible record away from home.

Best of the rest

Millwall and Bristol Rovers are two teams who could be involved in the play-offs come what May.

Millwall have gone the course before so know what’s required, I can see them pushing up towards the top two between now and Christmas.

Bristol Rovers got off to a great start but have seen their season unravel in recent weeks, losing their last five games. They have the potential to cause a few ripples at the top but need to pull themselves out of this slump soon or risk another season of mediocrity.

I would have expected Southend to be up there at the end of the season but they have all sorts of financial difficulties and that will hamper any promotion hopes they may have.

Oldham Athletic have the potential to challenge but have got off to a slow start and lack any real firepower up front.

Teams like Swindon Town, Hartlepool United and Walsall have performed above expectations so far but don’t have the squads to challenge for promotion.

Battle at the bottom

At the bottom there are a few surprises. Tranmere Rovers fans should feel sick with what they have had to deal with since the end of last season. The inexplicable sacking of Ronnie Moore, the appointment of John Barnes who has no managerial pedigree, followed by his swift departure, and a team on the pitch devoid of ideas and hope. They are in for a long, hard season.

Brighton were tipped by some to be at the top end of the table but have had a terrible start and have just sacked Russell Slade. Under the right management they could finish mid-table.

Southampton slowly but surely pulled themselves back into the black but it probably took a bit longer than they had hoped. They won’t have any relegation worries and who knows what could happen at the other end if they put a run together.

Stockport County are another League One side with plenty of money problems and have a real fight on their hands to stay in the division.

Last season’s promoted sides haven’t had the same impact MK Dons and Peterborough had in the last campaign and all face a fight against relegation.

It will be interesting to see the jockeying for position between now and New Year. As a Leeds fan, I expect us to open up a big lead at the top and make it clear to the others there is only one automatic up for grabs.

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