Yorkshire Post Power Rankings: Town, Bantams and Reds on the move up

Here is the table after week two:

1: Huddersfield Town LLWLWD (up three).

It is a grand old time to be a Terrier, after Town followed up a coupon-busting EFL result-of-the-day victory at Newcastle United in front of 49,000 stunned Geordies with an excellent point at Aston Villa - with David Wagner and company clearly not interested in spot of sight-seeing at St James’ Park and Villa Park, grounds which Town had not visited in the league since 1983 and 1987, respectively.

Most people outside of Huddersfield will have marked home win next to both games. Not so, with Town looking compact and solid at the back, industrious and in-your-face in midfield with a pronounced goal threat up top. That is why they are third in the Championship. No fluke. Roll on arguably the Championship game of the weekend against Barnsley.

2: Bradford City LDDLWW (up three).

Let us face it, not too many would have had City down for back-to-back away wins at Peterborough United and MK Dons, but both were fully deserved with Stuart McCall’s side taking their chances and producing just the sort of hard-working and disciplined away performances that serve you rather well in League One. Just one goal conceded in three league games is also a pretty good sign, too.

3: Barnsley LDDLWW (up three).

The Reds’ remarkable story under Paul Heckingbottom clearly has pages to be penned. After a stirring weekend win over much-fancied Derby County, which left a big contingent of Rams fans wholly stunned, Oakwell witnessed another memorable home victory over QPR in midweek with the hosts backing up in supreme fashion.

Barnsley clearly are not fazed by their new surroundings and the early evidence suggests that they can make a fair old impact. Onto Huddersfield for what should be a cracker.

4: Middlesbrough WDDDDD (down three).

Boro fans might just have taken a point ahead of their top-flight opener with Stoke. That is what they got and the result will not have surprised the pragmatists.

Boro looked typically solid at the back, with Alvaro Negredo getting off to a flyer with a debut goal, with the only debit side coming with Stoke’s free-kick leveller which Victor Valdes may have done better with. Still a point on the board ahead of the juicy Tees-Wear derby at Sunderland.

5: Hull City LWWLWW (up eight).

A fair old rise from last week, but the Tigers are worthy of all the plaudits they can get following a marvellous, if unexpected, opening-day win over champions Leicester as the hosts made light of their close-season from hell.

It just goes to show how far spirit, organisation, togetherness and defiance and a bit of quality can take you, although that siege mentality will probably have to be drawn upon in the weeks and months ahead. But what an outstanding start.

6: Sheffield Wednesday DLWLDL (down four).

A funny old week for the Owls, who kicked off by chiselling out a fine point at Norwich, despite having to contend with the Fernando Forestieri non-appearance side-show before the kissing and making up ahead of the trip to Burton, when the half-time introduction of Fessi could not prevent a 3-1 defeat in which the visitors were bullied, minus star defender Tom Lees. Leeds up next..

7: North Ferriby WWDLLW (up three).

Beaten 2-0 at Dover at the weekend, the Villagers bounced back, albeit thanks to a thoroughly bizarre winner against Guiseley in midweek. It is the sort of game that both Yorkshire sides will have been targeting, with the hosts coming out on the right side for a historic first victory at this level.

8: Doncaster Rovers LDLLDW (up three).

Ahead of back-to-back home games against Crawley and Cambridge, the pragmatist in Darren Ferguson may just have settled for four points out of six. Tuesday night’s win over the U’s was particularly welcome, with a clean sheet and first goal for the club from John Marquis - who showed character following an earlier penalty miss - being big ticks in the box.

9: York City LDDWDL (down six).

After a blow in the solar plexus late on in Saturday’s draw with Boreham Wood, the Minstermen were hit for six on a desperate night at Gateshead in midweek, when they were walloped 6-1.

It was early-season humiliation for York, with manager Jackie McNamara forced to apologise for the embarrassing defeat. Not a good sign in mid-August..

10: Leeds United LDLWLD (down three).

An undistinguished start to the Garry Monk reign, although he will have been grateful for small mercies after Chris Wood’s stoppage-time bicycle kick saved him from a damaging third league loss in midweek and a lorry load of pressure. United have flattered to deceive this term and could not half do with a result and performance at Hillsborough.

11: Rotherham United LLDLLL (down three).

In the final analysis, anything that the Millers picked up on the road at Aston Villa and Brighton would have represented a bonus, although comprehensive 3-0 reverses were disappointing all the same. The next two games against Brentford and Barnsley will provide Alan Stubbs with a better barometer, although the priceless currency of a win, however it comes, would be lovely..

12: Guiseley LWLLLL (down three).

It is early days, but it is already shaping up to being a long season for Guiseley, who suffered a gut-wrenching midweek loss at North Ferriby, despite dominating for large parts. No points on the board four games in and the need to stop the sequence is pressing.

13: Sheffield United LLLLDL (down one).

It has been a tough old baptism for Chris Wilder, yet to have lift-off after taking over at Bramall Lane, with Tuesday’s shambolic first-half performance en route to conceding three goals in a painful 3-0 home loss to Southend rubbing a vat of salt into the wounds. Fair to say that manager Wilder simply will not tolerate anything resembling a repeat. Only Millwall away, next up...