Five things we learned from Yorkshire's footballing weekend
We saw Bradford City and Barnsley boost their League One play-off push with victories in the north-west, but Sheffield United’s tale of woe in that part of the country continued - fresh from a dismal loss at Bury, they fluffed their lines just down the road at Rochdale. Where this leaves their season - who knows?
Doncaster Rovers’ winless streak was extended to eight games in all competitions, but they at least put a wedge in the door to end their sequence of debilitating losses. A draw against Millwall, one of League One’s better sides was encouraging.
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Hide AdMiddlesbrough cashed in on Hull City dropping points in a 0-0 Friday night draw with Sheffield Wednesday, winning 2-0 at Fulham to erase a few memories from their painful loss at Craven Cottage at the end of last season.
Huddersfield Town, after successive wins, were somewhat unlucky to go down to Ipswich Town, while joy was abound for Rotherham United as the Neil Warnock bandwagon finally got going thanks to a precious victory over Brentford at a raucous NYS.
For York City, after some positivity in their quest to stave off the drop, a reality check. The Minstermen have now recorded back-to-back home losses to Luton Town and Northampton Town. It promises to be a survival scrap to the end.
Here are five things we have learned from the weekend’s football.
Rotherham United’s Great Escape is on.
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Hide AdSome wins are bigger than others, as Saturday’s was for the Millers
A raucous NYS crowd, with the atmosphere described by midfielder Lee Frecklington as the best he has sampled while playing for the club, helped Neil Warnock’s side over the line with a huge win over Brentford with the defiance clear from home fans seething with injustice at the display of referee Mark Brown.
Rotherham displayed all the requisite DNA elements of a Warnock side – feisty, ballsy, committed, physically robust and in your face. Commitment was unstinting from the Millers, whose post-match mood was further improved after MK Dons’ late loss at Blackburn.
The Warnock reign has lift off and what a much-needed boost it has provided ahead of a March schedule which sees them face Sheffield Wednesday, Boro, Derby County and Ipswich Town.
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Hide AdMiddlesbrough erased memories of a bitter episode late last season
A Ross-McCormack inspired 4-3 defeat in West London in the dying embers of last term signalled the end of Boro’s automatic promotion quest - but some payback, if not all, was afforded on Saturday.
Boro followed up a much-improved showing in the midweek win over Cardiff City with another encouraging showing, with the return to form of Stewart Downing potentially a big factor after a morose last month or so. After a significant wobble, Aitor Karanka’s men are showing signs of getting their act together again at the right time with some big players rediscovering their form.
A 1-0 away win is the hallmark of a promotion contender, but Bradford City’s win came at a price
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Hide AdBradford City have dug deep to chisel out a fair few wins on the road this term, with Saturday’s success at Blackpool being a case in point.
It was a thoroughly professional and resilient performance, as you’d expect from a side managed by someone whose meticulous attention to detail and high standards are well known in Phil Parkinson.
A well-taken Kyel Reid strike rewarded the big 3,000 travelling contingent of Bradfordians, although the delight in victory on a difficult surface with City negotiated manfully was tempered by Steve Davies suffering a knee injury - with the luckless forward having not long returned to fitness.
Influential defender Reece Burke also twisted an ankle and Wes Thomas (calf) also picked up a knock.
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Hide AdVictory at a price maybe ahead of the midweek game with Colchester United.
The only thing that is consistent about Sheffield United’s season is its inconsistency
Another galling defeat was digested by irate Unitedites at Spotland on Saturday, with the Blades paying a hefty price for squandering opportunities, Rochdale picking them off twice to claim three points.
Nigel Adkins may have been given a pre-match boost after owner Kevin McCabe provided a public display of support to him and his coaching staff, but developments in Lancashire were not what the doctor ordered.
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Hide AdThey were unfortunate to face an inspired home goalkeeper in Josh Lillis, but the time for excuses is running out. Make that over.
While Adkins may still believe that the Blades can gatecrash the play-offs, it’s all about action now and managing games better and just simply finding a way. Somehow.
Doncaster Rovers at least have something to build on.
The wait for a first win since January 2 continues for Rovers, but at least they have stopped the rot after producing a much-improved home display in a 1-1 draw with Millwall, which was a big improvement on their Keepmoat showings against the Blades, Walsall and Port Vale.
Against one of the division’s form teams, Rovers showed signs of getting their mojo back, with busy Millwall goalkeeper Jordan Archer having to earn his money to prevent Doncaster from recording a first home win since December 12.
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Hide AdDarren Ferguson wanted to witness signs of character and desire on Saturday and was answered in the affirmative. It provides a starting point to getting back on an even keel and if Rovers replicate Saturday’s performance consistently enough, they should be fine when it comes to clinching League One safety.