Yorkshire’s team of the week: Broadfoot and Joao retain their places

IT MAY have been a non-vintage weekend for the most part for Yorkshire’s clubs - more especially for the West Yorkshire contingent - but some shining lights were detectable.

A priceless win was accrued for the second weekend running by Rotherham United, with honour remaining intact for Barnsley and Sheffield United, who played out an Oakwell draw. Another positive step for Doncaster Rovers also, who put in an impressive performance in the draw at League One leaders Coventry.

Here’s the Yorkshire Post’s ‘Team of the Week’ with two names appearing for the second weekend running:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

1: Adam Davies (Barnsley). The Reds custodian has had his critics this season, for sure, and had a spell out of the side. But stood tall in the derby cauldron.

2: Emilio Nsue (Middlesbrough). Grabbed a milestone first goal for the Teessiders with a sweet late finish. Forced to dig in with his team-mates defensively against a pumped-up Huddersfield, who were desperately unfortunate to lose.

3: Ben Chilwell (Huddersfield). Hugely encouraging display for the teenage loanee in just his second professional outing. Marauded with intent down the left, particularly in the first-half and showed plenty of promise for David Wagner’s Huddersfield.

4: Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough). Resolute throughout a torrid afternoon for the Teessiders at the John Smith’s Stadium - and it wasn’t just due to the weather. Won his headers and cleared his lines, held firm and kept Boro’s rearguard together.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

5: Kirk Broadfoot (Rotherham). Making up for lost time following his long ban and named in the select XI for the second week running. Strong defensive showing and enjoying a mini-renaissance.

6: Emyr Huws (Huddersfield). Dominant in particularly the first half for the Terriers and made them tick, with Dean Whitehead not far behind. The Welshman has gifts, it’s clear to see and he will be a big player for Town during a pivotal December.

7: Grant Ward (Rotherham). Labelled as Saturday’s stand-out Millers player by boss Neil Redfearn in their eye-catching 3-0 slaying of Bristol City. Displayed pace, energy and threat, with all that was missing from the Spurs loanee being a goal. Several youngsters stepped up to the plate during Redfearn’s time at Leeds and Ward is doing that down the M1 at Rotherham.

8: Harry Middleton (Doncaster). Handed a craved-for platform by Darren Ferguson, whose faith in him is such that he has allowed midfield general Richie Wellens to head back to Oldham. Enhanced his reputation against arguably the best footballing side in League One and emerging as a vital cog in Rovers’ steady upturn.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

9: Nathan Tyson (Doncaster). Fit again and produced an accomplished showing at the Ricoh. Struck twice and could well have grabbed a hat-trick. Showed what Rovers were missing in his absence in early-season. A leader up top.

10: Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham). Assumed responsibility in the absence of Leon Best and showed that when he’s hot and at it that he’s an unquestioned talent. Coolly-taken penalty and another sweet strike and has already hit five goals for the Millers in 2015-16 - two more than his tally last term. Getting his mojo back.

11: Lucas Joao (Sheffield Wednesday). Another named in the side for the second weekend running. Cooled his heels once again before being thrown into the fray and made a tangible impact once again. Super-sub or what?

Possesses the one thing defenders hate - pace, while also making a nuisance of himself in the box. Small wonder that he is on the radar of top-flight clubs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Manager: Neil Redfearn (Rotherham). Redfearn will have known that after a sound result at Leeds that the trick for the Millers was backing it up in an eminently-winnable home game against Bristol City. His side did that and a bit more besides and showed evidence that Redfearn might be onto something.