Championship scene-setter: Tonight's pointers for Tigers, Owls, Leeds, Boro, Millers and Town

VICTORIES on cold winter nights in late February can go a fair way towards achieving your seasonal aims as a football club.
Graphic by Graeme Bandeira.Graphic by Graeme Bandeira.
Graphic by Graeme Bandeira.

That pre-match message is likely to be uttered by managers of several of Yorkshire’s Championship contingent ahead of their teams striding out this evening, with Barnsley and York City also in key League One and League Two action respectively.

Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town take the field, with three - the Tigers, Millers and Town - facing long road trips to Ipswich Town, Reading and MK Dons, respectively.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Owls seek to continue their peerless Hillsborough form at home against QPR, while faltering Boro have a big home date with Cardiff.

Neil WarnockNeil Warnock
Neil Warnock

For Leeds United, Ross McCormack’s Fulham arrive to add a little bit of spice to an otherwise nondescript looking fixture.

Barnsley can move within four points of sixth-placed Coventry City with victory at Reading, while York welcome runaway League Two leaders Northampton Town seeking to continue their encouraging recent home form.

Five observations ahead of tonight’s action.

1) If Hull City are top of the table by the close of play, it will be a big lift for them.

Fulham striker Ross McCormack back at Elland Road tonightFulham striker Ross McCormack back at Elland Road tonight
Fulham striker Ross McCormack back at Elland Road tonight
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Steve Bruce’s ‘A Team’ are likely to stride out at Portman Road tonight and with Boro and Burnley both at home to Cardiff and Nottingham Forest, respectively, City could drop to third if they lose and their top rivals triumph.

Victory for the Tigers would mark the first successful negotiation of a big double-header as they host Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.

Ipswich are unbeaten in four on home soil, but have been beaten by promotion-chasing Brighton, Boro and Derby this term and manager Mick McCarthy has spoken on each occasion afterwards about his side lacking the quality of each in the final analysis.

2) With Sheffield Wednesday having won just four league matches out of 16 on the road, home form is very much the cornerstone of their promotion quest.

Steve BruceSteve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After Saturday’s ‘accident’ at Preston, the fact that the Owls are back in action on home soil this evening is likely to be greeted with a fair bit of enthusiasm - even accounting for the absence of talisman Fernando Forestieri.

Wednesday have not been beaten at S6 in 15 matches since the end of August. Further reliance on home form between now and May will be required in the Owls are to achieve their aims.

Another good omen for the Owls tonight is that on the last three occasions that they have lost Championship games - to Charlton Athletic, MK Dons and Boro - they have bounced back straightaway with wins over Huddersfield, Wolves and Fulham .

3) The arrival of Ross McCormack adds a much-needed bit of spice to proceedings for Leeds United.

Neil WarnockNeil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Whites fans who head to Elland Road tonight do so in stoicism as opposed to anything resembling optimism.

For another - yet another - campaign, Leeds’ seasonal fates have petered out before the onset of Spring. There is not much hope around at Elland Road as the ‘big-hitters’ battle it out.

Without the arrival of former Elland Road striker McCormack this evening, there would not be much salt in the soup.

A poor result and performance would be distinctly unpalatable. Leeds have won once in their past nine Championship games - a statistic that head coach Steve Evans will be acutely aware of.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) If Middlesbrough do not get three points against Cardiff, a drama will become a mini-crisis.

Without a win in five league matches, tonight’s game with improving Cardiff looks as big as any this term for Aitor Karanka and his side, who stride out on Teesside following a four-match warm-weather break in Marbella.

Fulham striker Ross McCormack back at Elland Road tonightFulham striker Ross McCormack back at Elland Road tonight
Fulham striker Ross McCormack back at Elland Road tonight

It is the longest stretch without a win in the Spaniard’s time in charge since arriving in November, 2013 and while Boro have games in hand on their rivals - they are down to third when just over a month ago they boasted a handsome lead at the top.

The big question for Karanka is providing some offensive support for £9m man Jordan Rhodes, who huffed and puffed last time out at Elland Road, but in isolation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Will Karanka, who is loathe to switch from a 4-2-3-1 formation, tinker with things slightly and play David Nugent just off Rhodes or maybe Cristhian Stuani?

And what about his wingers? Some key decisions for the Spaniard, who needs to hit upon a winning formula soon or else Boro will likely be consigned to the play-offs again.

5) Rotherham could not half have do with a ‘bonus ball’ win.

The fixture list has not afforded new Millers manager Neil Warnock any favours and when he said that this task represents his toughest ever in football, he was not jesting - even accounting for some hyperbolic statements by the canny manager during the course of his epic career.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reading have seen their colours lowered in Berkshire just once in their past eight outings but sometimes surprise results do transpire.

Reading may be on the crest of a wave after booking their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals at the weekend and will be at fairly short odds to triumph tonight, but maybe the Millers can provide a reality check in true ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ fashion.

Rotherham could certainly do with one or else the pressure will be piled up ahead of the weekend home game with Brentford.