LOCOMOTIVE Plovdiv unexpectedly won the autumn part of the season.

But it can fairly be said that the Black-and-Whites absolutely deserved first place, because they took 12 wins, drew one game and lost only two.

The best proof of their class were the games against Bulgaria's two football giants, Levski and CSKA. The Plovdiv side won both matches 3:1, giving no chance to their rivals.

The team of Eduard Eranossian lost only to Litex in Lovech in a keenly-contested match, and in Sofia against Slavia.

Locomotive drew against its Sofia namesake in September. Thus the Black-and-Whites took 37 points and are two points ahead of the champions CSKA. The last game at Lauta Park in Plovdiv was decisive for the leadership. Before it, the Sofia side was leading by one point. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, but was played a day later because of heavy snow in Plovdiv. CSKA arrived as leaders but were behind after just five minutes when Nigerian striker Ekundayo Djayeoba found the net. However, CSKA midfield player Emil Gargorov levelled eight minutes later, with his 13th goal of the campaign.

Locomotive then took full control, with strikes either side of half-time from Jayeoba and Ivo Mihailov giving them a precious win, and ensuring they would spend the winter break two points clear at 37 points. In fact, it will be the first time in 31 years that Locomotive has held top spot during the recess.

Eranossian said:"We don't have the ultimate task to win the championship. The only thing our president wanted before the season from me was to build a young team that within two years would compete with the best Bulgarian sides.

"Even after the win over CSKA he has not told me that there is a change of the task," he said.

Eranossian took over the team from his native town from former national coach Dimiter Dimitrov this past summer. Eranossian, who is a legend at Lauta Park for his 150 goals in the 1970s and 1980s, managed to build a good side, including in it the young players who had been neglected by Dimitrov.

Now Locomotive has one player, Martin Kamburov, in the national team, three under-21 internationals - Kiril Kotev, Alexander Tunchev and Dimiter Tsenovski, and two Macedonian internationals - Vancho Trayanov and Robert Petrov.

Locomotive fans believe that their team could win the championship for the first time since its founding, back in 1936.

In the spring, the Black-and-Whites, of 15 games, will have to play only six away and nine in Plovdiv.

Their biggest rival, CSKA, who are second in the winter break, have a much more difficult programme.

Behind the front two, PFC Levski Sofia and PFC Slavia Sofia are third and fourth with 34 points apiece, after weekend victories against PFC Botev Plovdiv and PFC Naftex Bourgas respectively. Slavia have been prolific scorers this term, their 34 goals bettered only by leaders Locomotive, who have found the net 35 times in 15 matches.

Fifth spot belongs to PFC Litex Lovech, who have 32 points, and like the teams above them, they hope to mount a serious title bid when the action resumes in mid-February. There is then an 11-point gap to the nearest challengers, and the rest seem to be in a battle for respectability - or survival.

PFC Belasitza Petrich, PFC Makedonska Slava and Botev Plovdiv occupy the bottom three positions, with the latter side having won just two games all season. They particularly will need to raise their game in the second half of the campaign.