Walsall are top at Christmas but how have the last six festive table toppers fared

Saturday's 1-0 success over Barrow extended their unbeaten league run to 10 games and stretched their lead at the summit to four points with a game in hand.

Here, we take a look at how the last six Christmas table toppers have fared in League Two.

2023/24: Stockport County 

Stockport held a slender one-point advantage at the League Two summit at Christmas after collecting 49 points from their opening 23 matches. 

The Hatters enjoyed a record-equalling 12-match winning streak and signed off ahead of Christmas with back-to-back wins including an 8-0 drubbing of Sutton United. 

Dave Challinor's charges continued to march on at the top of the table and eventually pipped runners-up Wrexham to the post by four points. 

2022/23: Leyton Orient 

Leyton Orient stormed into a seven-point lead at the top after collecting seven wins from eight games before Christmas in 2022. 

The O's never relinquished top spot for the rest of the campaign and Richie Wellens secured the second promotion of his career by leading them to the title by a six-point margin.

2021/22: Forest Green Rovers

Forest Green propelled themselves into a nine-point lead at Christmas in 2021 after losing just two of their first 20 games. 

They collected just one win in their final seven games and slipped off top spot after the penultimate game. However, Rovers secured the title over runners-up Exeter City on goal difference with a 2-2 draw at Mansfield Town on the final day. 

Former Saddlers striker Matty Stevens (23) and current Walsall frontman Jamille Matt (19) scored 42 league goals combined across the campaign.

2020/21: Newport County (Cheltenham Town) 

Former Walsall boss Michael Flynn inspired Newport to 11 wins from their opening 16 games and guided them to the League Two summit by Christmas. 

They held a narrow one-point lead over Forest Green but saw their title hopes derailed by an eight-match winless run during the winter. 

Cheltenham Town, who were seventh at Christmas, went on to win the title on the final day, while Newport dropped into the play-offs and suffered Wembley heartbreak with a 1-0 defeat against Morecambe.

2019/20: Swindon Town

Swindon Town collected seven wins from their eight games before Christmas to sit one-point clear of Forest Green at the top. 

The Robins were level on 69 points with Crewe Alexandra when the season was curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic but pipped them to the title on points per game having played a match less. 

2018/19: Lincoln City

Lincoln City made a stellar start under Danny Cowley with eight wins from their opening 10 games and maintained a consistent run of form to sit top at Christmas. 

The Imps embarked on a club record 19-match unbeaten streak to secure automatic promotion with four games to spare. 

And they lifted the title with a six-point margin over runners-up Bury despite collecting just one point from their remaining games.