Newcastle United are top of the Championship with 40 points.
Despite losing to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, Newcastle United are still top of the Championship, having picked up 40 points from their opening 18 games.
The Magpies have been almost unstoppable during the first half of the season, with just a few minor blips along the way.
Rafael Benitez looks to have assembled the perfect squad to get Newcastle out of the Championship, which it looks like he is going to do, but has it been easier than expected? We went to see what the fans on Tyneside think.
Some Toon fans have been surprised at how little challenge they have had on their march to the top of the Championship table, while others expected Newcastle to dominate the second tier of English football.
“When we lost at Fulham and then we lost at home to Huddersfield I began to think ‘oh my god’,” said one fan.
“Then it all settled down and Benitez got a grip of the situation and organised the team. We look good.”
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez shakes hands with Matt Ritchie after the game
There is a real buzz around the club right now, with the winning mentality at Newcastle making it an enjoyable time to be a Magpie, but there is always a worry that things will not be as enjoyable back in the Premier League, assuming Benitez guides them back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
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