Doncaster Rovers setting the pace with Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough leading the chase – YP Power Rankings

There is also key movement elsewhere for the likes of Rotherham United, Hull City, Barnsley, Leeds United and Huddersfield Town. Here’s the latest, with the table based on teams’ past six results in all competitions. See what you think, let us know down the bottom in the comments section ...

1: Doncaster Rovers WWLWWW (=) – If you are going to head to a Premier League club in search of a Cup shock, you might as well go there in good form. That is what Rovers certainly are. Darren Moore’s side have won nine of their last 11 games in all competitions - winning their last four matches away - and are riding high in League One. What a wonderful job Moore is doing. Now for West Ham.

2: Sheffield Wednesday LWDWWW (+1) – Up a place by default, but Wednesday’s mid-winter form has been warming in these chilly times, more especially with the club still without a permanent head coach. The Owls make their return following their Covid-induced absence in the Cup at Everton on Saturday and they will be hoping to have a little bit of fun along the way, just like Rotherham did. A shock maybe? Fingers crossed.

3: Middlesbrough WLWLLW (+1) – Responded immediately following their disappointing home loss to Birmingham City with an excellent win at an in-form Nottingham Forest side. Boro, whose last three victories have been on the road, have been challenged by Neil Warnock to go on an unbeaten run to boost their play-off bid. Opportunity knocks with two successive home games with Blackburn and Rotherham. Then, it’s onto leaders Norwich. Boro are fourth in the Championship’s latest six-match league guide.

4: Hull City LWDWDW (+2) – Chipping away and warmed up for a key trip to Portsmouth with a valuable home victory over another side having a good season in Accrington Stanley. Five unbeaten, the Tigers are ranked at 14th in League One’s six-match form guide. Their total of 22 away goals is the best in the division.

5: Barnsley WWLWLL (-3) – Many suspected that January would be the true barometer of the Reds’ progress given the tough schedule and so it is proving. Valerian Ismael’s side head into Saturday’s Cup tie with Norwich on the back of successive league losses to the promotion-chasing trio of Watford, Swansea and the Canaries.

Barnsley have not done too much wrong, but will be conscious of a big league game on the horizon at home to off-form Cardiff next Wednesday. The Reds are ranked at 19th in the division’s latest six-match guide.

6: Bradford City LDWWWD (+1) – Ranked at sixth in League Two’s six-match guide, City - after a 25-day break - will be chomping at the bit to make their return to action at Cambridge United on Saturday, with a number of new options in their squad. Four of the club’s next five scheduled matches are on the road.

7: Rotherham United WLLLWD (+4) – A big jump for the Millers on the back of two outstanding performances against Derby and Stoke - three if you include the gallant Cup display at Everton. Paul Warne’s side look to have settled on a 5-3-1-1 formation which really suits them. They ended their run of losses-straight-after-a-victory form of 2020-21 by drawing 3-3 in a midweek thriller with Stoke.

8: Sheffield United LLLWWL (-3) – After a historic win over Newcastle, the Blades probably would not have picked Jose Mouriniho’s Spurs as their next opponents. That is the way the cookie crumbles for Chris Wilder’s side, who make the trip to both Manchester clubs next week - with a Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle sandwiched in between. Seventeenth in the top-flight’s guide over the past six matches.

9: Harrogate Town LWLWLW (+1) – Dug out a point against Exeter in midweek, with their run without a league victory at Wetherby Road extending to seven matches. Still, Town are digging away and proving hard to beat and competitive. They are ranked at 13th in League Two’s current six-match form statistics.

10: Leeds United LWWLLL (-2) – No-one does January blues as good as Leeds United. For the third successive season, Leeds have lost three successive games in the first calendar month of the New Year under Marcelo Bielsa and they will be glad of a breather before returning to action at Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Still, a bit of perspective. United are still ranked a decent eighth in the Premier League’s form guide over the past six matches.

11: Huddersfield Town LWLLLL (-2) – On their worst run of form under Carlos Corberan, having lost four on the spin under him for the first time. There are mitigating factors such as a number of key defenders currently being sidelined. Another side who will be glad of a ‘mini-break.’. Their next game is at Bristol City on Tuesday night.

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