Bradford City, Harrogate Town and Barnsley on the rise while Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield United slide – Yorkshire Post Power Rankings

A VERY, very interesting week in our latest Yorkshire Power Rankings update with new leaders and a new top three.
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While some clubs have been afforded handsome past weeks, others have endured wretched times of it - with some significant developments all over the county. Here are the latest ‘standings’ - have a scroll through and see if you agree, leaving your own thoughts in the commensts section at the bottom.

1: Bradford City DDWWLW (+4) – Pole position to crown a brilliant return in the circumstances for interim duo Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars. In their ten League Two matches in charge thus far, City have won six times and lost just once and have taken 21 points from the last 30. Given where they were in mid-December when the grim talk centred on the National League, it is a wholesome return. The Bantams’ latest victory in midweek - a come-from-behind success over Morecambe - has even seen some optimistics look towards the top-seven. Funny old season.

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2: Harrogate Town DLWWLW (+5) – Secured a key 1-0 success over an aspiring Carlisle side in midweek - and a return of two wins in their past three matches at the CNG Stadium represents progress given their bout of homesickness this term. In the top ten League Two form in the past six matches, more importantly Town have also made significant inroads of late in pulling away from any relegation trouble.

SITTING PRETTY: Bradford City coaching duo, Conor Sellars and Mark Trueman. Picture: Bruce RollinsonSITTING PRETTY: Bradford City coaching duo, Conor Sellars and Mark Trueman. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
SITTING PRETTY: Bradford City coaching duo, Conor Sellars and Mark Trueman. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

3: Barnsley WDDLWW (+6) – This week’s big movers. Produced arguably the stand-out Championship result of the season in becoming the first side to win against Brentford in 22 league matches and backed it up with victory over Blackburn on Wednesday - their first home league success at Oakwell in 2021. It is all power to Valerien Ismael. Only four second-tier sides have taken more points than Barnsley since his arrival in late October.

4: Sheffield Wednesday LWWLWL (-1) – Stymied by the weather - and a faulty boiler - on Saturday and edged out late on Tuesday at Stoke, courtesy of a goal by, you have guessed it, Steven Fletcher. Still, there are home comforts on the pitch at the minute for the Owls, who are chasing their sixth successive league victory at Hillsborough on Saturday in a huge relegation six-pointer with Birmingham. Another massive home game against Rotherham is around the corner not too long after.

5: Hull City WDLDLW (+3) – Bounced back in brilliant Mallik-Wilks inspired fashion after a weekend home loss to MK Dons with a bountiful 5-0 victory at Wigan - which helped soothe the wounds after last season’s pitiful 8-0 defeat there. It has put Hull in good heart for Grant McCann’s return to Doncaster this weekend. In terms of away goals, no one has bettered the Tigers tally of 31 in 15 matches, which averages out at two goals per game.

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6: Rotherham United WLWWLL (-2) – Failed in their quest to emulate history by becoming the first Millers’ side to win four successive away games at this level since early 1982 after being edged out at Bournemouth in midweek. Next up is a visit to Norwich City and a return to Carrow Road where Paul Warne used to stand on the terraces as a lad. No room for sentiment for ‘Warnie’ as he seeks to pull off a surprise and pick up some survival points.

ON THE RISE: Barnsley head coach, Valerien Ismael. Picture: Andrew Yates/SportimageON THE RISE: Barnsley head coach, Valerien Ismael. Picture: Andrew Yates/Sportimage
ON THE RISE: Barnsley head coach, Valerien Ismael. Picture: Andrew Yates/Sportimage

7: Leeds United LWWLWL (-1) – A microcosm of Leeds’s season arrived at Arsenal, where they mustered some charitable concessions, but produced plenty of entertainment going forward in a 4-2 reverse. In the bigger picture, three wins in their past five Premier League matches is a strong return for Leeds, who visit Wolves on Friday before successive home games with Southampton and Aston Villa. Anything could happen in the Wolves game..

8: Sheffield United WLWLWL (-6) – Their win-one, lose-one recent streak continues, but their bleak 3-0 loss at West Ham - compounded by an injury to John Egan - hammered another nail into their relegation coffin. A few more will be administered if the Blades lose at Fulham on Saturday. The sands of time are slipping away.

9: Doncaster Rovers WWWLLL (-9) – Rovers have comfortably endured their worst week of the campaign by way of defeats to Fleetwood, Sunderland and Accrington - with Darren Moore experiencing three successive league losses for the first time in his impressive reign at the club. A February which has promised much, but is now in danger of hitting the buffers continues with a big home game with Hull City at the weekend. Rovers need to reassert their promotion credentials.

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10: Middlesbrough LLDLLW (=) - Held their nerve to claim their first win in six matches - and end a run of four consecutive home losses - with victory over Huddersfield in midweek to just about keep the play-off light flickering. Boro must do a lot more to reassert their top-six credentials. They visit Reading - scene of a great win in the club’s late pull away from relegation trouble last season - on Saturday.

GOOD WEEK: Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Danny Lawson/PAGOOD WEEK: Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA
GOOD WEEK: Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA

11: Huddersfield Town LLDDLL (=) - No-one has suffered in Yorkshire so far in 2021 as much as Huddersfield Town. Having an awful time of it and after an appalling second half against Wycombe, Town again paid the price for defensive sloppiness as they saw a lead slip from their grasp again en route to a midweek loss at Boro. Town are now without a league win in eight matches and have taken just two points from the last 24. Only Swansea up next.

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