Five things to ponder for Tigers, Leeds, Boro, Owls, Blades, Reds and Bantams from the weekend's action

TENSE, exciting, nervy...It most certainly was.

Another high-octane weekend of Yorkshire football sadly ended with the demotion of York City, but there were thrills and spills elsewhere.

Here are five observations:

1: Hull City v Leeds United – All about momentum for Hull, as Leeds seek their own milestone.

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Hull’s bid to gatecrash the top two was unlikely in the extreme and now it is over it is all about getting momentum in their final three games against Brentford, Bolton and Rotherham before the real stuff begins again.

At least, the Tigers know where they are and can planning accordingly.

Leeds extended their unbeaten run to four matches with another display of character in East Yorkshire, doing Steve Evans no harm. Most would agree he has done a presentable job in the circumstances this term.

United, in 12th, are two points behind ninth-placed Birmingham with a top-10 finish something to strive for.

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Leeds need four points from their last two games to record their best haul of points at this level since their brush with the play-offs in 2010-11. Progress in most people’s books, Massimo...

2: Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town – Only two wins will do now for the Boro.

Boro blinked in the three-way chase for promotion, failing to break down Ipswich and spurning a host of chances en route to a 0-0 route, much to the pleasure of those from Brighton and Burnley.

The upshot is that Boro must win their last two games - Birmingham away on Friday and against Brighton on the final day - to avoid the dreaded play-offs. Boro invariably do things the hard way and they must do so again. While supporters might have viewed the final day humdinger with Brighton with trepidation not so long back, it might just prove a potential ‘get out of jail’ card - especially if Boro slip up again next week.

3: Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday – Owls nearly there.

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Yes, the Owls have yet to beat a top-five rival this season and frustratingly came within eight minutes and stoppage time of doing that before Darren Bent intervened.

But it was a good point for the Owls against one of the division’s form sides ,who look in decent nick for the play-offs.

Wednesday may be four games without a win, but the glass should be half full after a proficient performance in all departments at Derby which augurs well for the play-offs.

While Bolton almost rendered next weekend’s game between the Owls and Cardiff as insignificant, Carlos Carvalhal’s side still have work to do to mathematically book a top-six berth – a point against the Bluebirds would do the job.

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4: Sheffield United v Barnsley – Good point gained in the end by the Reds.

While Barnsley will have trudged off the pitch a little disappointed after not taking three points at the Lane, it proved in the end to be a point gained after faltering Gillingham slipped up at home to Shrewsbury, with the Reds leapfrogging the Gills into sixth.

For the Blades, appropriately enough in the city this is staging the World Snooker Championships, they require about three snookers to somehow get into the top six. Highly unlikely.

5: Bradford City v Walsall – Powerhouse Bantams steady the ship.

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Bradford rounded off a frustrating week with a powerhouse display, brushing aside Walsall, headlined by James Hanson, who got his mojo back with a super hat-trick in a barnstorming second half from the hosts, which will have raised confidence levels immensely.

Hanson famously first showed his prowess to the nation in the run to the Capital One Cup final of 2012-13 and came to the party in spectacular fashion with a 16-minute treble on Saturday.

Will be a big player in every way if City are to end their absence from the second tier.

Bradford struggle for goals???

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