Following their promotion from League One at the end of last season, Southampton were not considered serious contenders.

While manager Nigel Adkins had led them up in less than one season in charge of the club, the former Scunthorpe boss didn't boast the track record at this level of the Football League to suggest that he should be able to make an impact.

Nonetheless, with Southampton atop the table and with one half of the campaign in the past, Sports Mole takes a look back at the club's season so far.

August

Without a win on opening weekend in over a decade, the Saints couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2011/12 season than a 3-1 triumph over an established top-third Leeds United side.

That is, until the club came up with five consecutive wins.

Meanwhile, their first loss – a 3-2 defeat at preseason favourites Leicester – left them in second place in the league, but strong enough to secure their second cup win at Swansea in the final game of the month.

September

Southampton began September with a 3-2 home win over Nottingham Forest, before running off second and third consecutive home victories – one of which was in the league, one in the cup.

Adkins's men continued to struggle on the road, dropping points in back to back games for the first time this season in a tie at Turf Moor and a midweek defeat at Cardiff.

However, thanks to outside results, the Saints were able to hold on to first place in the Championship despite their dropped points.

October

Coming off the back of another big home win – this time against Watford – the Saints struggled again to get going on the road at Pride Park after falling behind to Nigel Clough's side.

Adkins continued to struggle to find a solution as his side bounced back with a win at home over West Ham in midweek. A share of the spoils at the Madejski followed, before being eliminated from the Carling Cup at Selhurst Park.

Upon their return to Southampton, though, the hosts welcomed second-place Middlesbrough and scored three unanswered goals.

November

Taking that momentum into November, the Saints notched three consecutive wins – including their first on the road since August at the Ricoh Arena – as Nigel Adkins looked to create some breathing space at the top.

However, relegation candidates Bristol City had other plans, beating the league leaders 2-0 to block them from otherwise taking maximum points from the penultimate month of the year.

Even so, Southampton ended November a solid 13 points clear of the bottommost playoff spot.

December

The Saints began to falter come Christmas, first being beaten by bottom-of-the-league Doncaster and then dropping points at Portsmouth and at home to Blackpool.

Bristol City then beat them for the second month on the bounce, handing them their first home loss of the season and sealing their lowest monthly points total on the current campaign by half.

Southampton are still in first place in the Championship, but only on goal difference.