Five pointers from the weekend as Millers take pride of place

Pride of place went to Rotherham United, who made it back-to-back wins under Neil Redfearn with an eye-catching 3-0 win over Bristol City. Fans of Doncaster Rovers will have been feeling pleased with proceedings after a commendable draw at League One leaders Coventry. Encouragement also for Huddersfield Town punters, despite an unfortunate 2-0 loss to Middlesbrough.

Particularly for followers of Leeds United and York City, there was plenty of food for thought.

As we head into the festive month of December, four clubs remain in the relegation zone, the Millers, Town, Barnsley and York City, with worries also for the likes of Leeds.

Here’s five things we have learned from the weekend:

1: Huddersfield may have lost, but David Wagner is already making his mark.

In his first outing in charge on home soil, Wagner, omnipresent on the touchline, helped orchestrate a high-octane, pumped-up performance full of pace, passion and intent. The only thing that was missing was a goal or two, but despite a 2-0 loss to Middlesbrough, a key development came at the final whistle with Town heartily clapped off.

Their season will not be defined by results against the likes of Boro. But it will versus the next three visitors to the John Smith’s Stadium - the Millers, Bristol City and Preston. Forget the result, the gegenpressing future looks a lot brighter at Town.

2: The debilitating spiral continues at Leeds, who are approaching another on-pitch tumult.

United produced something akin to a no-show at Loftus Road against a side in far from rude health in QPR and it earned considerable rebuke from the sold-out allocation in the away end. Just how many more kicks in the teeth must United’s fan-base receive? It’s worrying times, with Steve Evans having presided over just two wins in his seven games in charge, taking eight points from a possible 21. Only high-flying Hull next. Lose that and there will be a few rewinds to last December, which was pretty much a write-off.

3: Doncaster Rovers are getting back on the straight and narrow.

Saturday’s test at leaders Coventry was arguably the biggest yet for Darren Ferguson. His side emerged from it with credit intact with a proficient performance yielding a healthy point at the high-fliers - and it could have been three on another day. Rovers are getting it together and the balance between youth and experience looks good and they are ending a difficult year in spritely fashion.

4: Barnsley’s search for a home win continues but their character shone through.

The Reds have set some unwanted milestones this term, but at least were spared the ignominy of a fifth successive home league loss - at the expense of neighbours Sheffield United. There was redemption in the process for Conor Hourihane, who shrugged off a penalty miss with a late, late leveller for the hosts. It might - just might - prove a seismic moment in the Reds’ season. We live in hope.

5: The Millers are on the rise.

After a gritty, determined and diligent derby victory at Leeds, the Millers showed their polish to dispatch Bristol City in arguably their most emphatic home victory since returning to the second tier. They head into this weekend’s home game with Wolves seeking a third successive league win for the first time since promotion at the end of 2013-14. Neil Redfearn is harnessing a renaissance at the New York Stadium at just the right time.