Little Mix Have 'Lowest-Selling Winner's Song Since 2004'

As the 2011 XF champs look likely to miss out on the Christmas No.1 spot...

Little Mix may have scored their first No.1 single with debut track Cannonball, but the songs first-week sales are the lowest by an X Factor winner since 2004.

Despite The X Factor 2011 champions shifting 210,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling single of the year so far, the girls fell far behind the likes of Matt Cardle, who managed to sell 439,007 copies of When We Collide in its first week in 2010.

2005 winner Shayne Ward still has the most success XF winner's song, selling a massive 723,180 copies of That's My Goal in the first week - flogging more on its first day than Little Mix did in a week.

Jesy, Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne's effort has become the seventh most successful winner's song to date, with only Steve Brookstein selling less in 2004.

In other related news, Little Mix are almost certain to miss out on the coveted Christmas No.1 spot, with the Military Wives and Gareth Malone's Wherever You Are looking likely to top the festive countdown.

X Factor boss Simon Cowell has already admitted defeat on Twitter, posting via his official account: "Congrats to Little Mix & congrats to Military Wives. It’s a great cause & a worthy Christmas No 1."

The Xmas chart-topper will be announced during a special Top of the Pops show on Christmas Day at 2pm, BBC1.

SEE PICS OF LITTLE MIX FROM THE X FACTOR 2011 HERE!

Watch MTV News on the hour every hour on MTV - Sky Channel 126 and Virgin Channel 311