Matt Cardle Second single ‘Run For Your Life‘ failed to top the charts

Last year’s X Factor winner  Matt Cardle and his record label bosses must have been bracing themselves in anticipation of last night singles charts announcement. They were hoping that Matt Cradle second single would be as successfully as his first, but they were left disappointed.

The singer’s first single since winning the show failed to break the Top 5 – and only sold more than previous X Factor winner Leon Jackson whose career as a recording artist was ended not long after.

Matt’s ‘Run For Your Life’ release only came in at number six in the charts, selling less than 40,000 copies throughout the week.

It compares to the 66,000 units shifted by fourth placed X Factor contestant Cher Lloyd earlier this year, and the huge 150,000 sales of One Direction’s debut single.

Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS, Olly Murs, Diana Vickers and Shayne Ward all posted higher opening sales for their singles.

Joe McElderry might feel a little better today because his single sold 43,000 copies last autumn, before the teenager was dropped by his record label at the beginning of the year.