5 Best campaigns from newly-promoted sides in Premier League history

1. Newcastle United (1993/1994) - 3rd

Andy Cole in action for Newcastle United

Just a season before Forest enjoyed their dream return to the Premier League, Newcastle United had set the benchmark for newly-promoted teams with an outstanding third-place finish in 1993-94. Promoted as champions of Division One, Newcastle fans would have expected big things from their beloved Magpies, but few could have predicted the campaign that followed.

While most other sides on this list started strongly and faded away later on, Newcastle won just one of the opening six league games before beginning a near-unstoppable charge up the table. Their eventual third-placed finish secured a return to European football for Newcastle, having not featured in continental competition since 1970.

Key to the Magpies’ success was the goal-scoring duo of Peter Beardsley and Andy Cole, who combined for an incredible return of 55 goals between them in 42 games. Cole would finish on 34 league goals in 40 matches, netting 41 in all competitions on his way to being crowned Young Player of the Year.

In fact, Newcastle was the highest-scoring team in the division, racking up 82 goals including seven in one game against Swindon Town. Kevin Keegan’s side would gain a reputation as one of English football’s most entertaining sides over the following few years, narrowly missing out on the title in 1995-96 as well as 1996-97, earning the nickname ‘The Entertainers’ for their attractive style of football.