Power Rankings: Barnsley impress, Rhodes helps Boro, Leeds climb while Town drop

Middlesbrough did one of the bigger deals of the day when they captured Jordan Rhodes - how did that affect their ranking?

Meanwhile Sheffield United fans were up in arms over a lack of business.

There has also been a spot of actual football played in the county, if you managed to miss it among all of the pomp and circumstance.

Find out where your team ranks in this week’s Yorkshire Post Power Rankings:

1) Hull City (-)

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It is fair to say that the FA Cup will not exactly be a priority at the KC Stadium this season.

Promotion is the aim of the game and they are doing a fine job of that by sitting on top of the Championship.

However, it’s always good to win games and Hull managed that on Saturday with a 3-1 victory against Bury.

Even more impressive was the fact they did it while changing their entire starting line-up, which fits in with Steve Bruce’s hope of a cup run to keep fringe players fit.

2) Barnsley (up one)

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What a run Barnsley find themselves on.

They backed manager Lee Johnson after a tricky spell that could have seen them break their own record for successive league defeats.

What have they received in return? A series of victories that has lifted them up to 12th, five points away from the play-off places with 18 games to go.

That positive outlook was boosted by the 1-0 win away against Swindon Town on Saturday.

VIDEO: Lee Johnson and Sam Winnall in the frame for monthly Football League awards

3) FC Halifax Town (down one)

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Two draws on the spin knocks Halifax Town another place down the Power Rankings.

This weekend they hosted Welling United and drew 1-1.

The momentum has fizzled slightly, but the Shaymen can still be impressed with their position after an incredibly difficult beginning to the season.

They look likely to stay in the National League, something that was looking increasingly unlikely prior to Darren Kelly leaving the club.

4) Middlesbrough (up one)

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Middlesbrough might not have played at the weekend, but deadline day handed them some real momentum.

First there was the acquisition of Richie De Laet. The Leicester City right-back is a smooth operator in the second tier and adds to their options.

Then the protracted transfer of Jordan Rhodes went through, giving Boro the firepower they have missed over the last few weeks.

It feels as though the Riverside Stadium club made all the right moves to ensure they earn a place in the Premier League next season.

5) Sheffield Wednesday (down one)

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The Owls have undergone a slight knock to their momentum over the last week, not least in their 3-2 loss against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

As much as the league is the focus, to lose in such a manner to a lower league side will have to have hurt Carlos Carvalhal.

That was then followed by a draw against Burnley on Tuesday, which was a positive considering the Clarets’ position as one of the promotion favourites.

They are, however, out of the top six, which explains their slight drop.

MATCH REPORT: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Burnley 1

6) Leeds United (up two)

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There is an acceptance among Leeds fans that the season is now all about the FA Cup.

Of course, there is little chance of a team from the second tier winning the competition, but it is all Leeds really have left to play for.

That is why there was much rejoicing when they beat Bolton 2-1 on Saturday to progress to the fifth round.

The first-half was also widely regarded as one of the best Leeds displays of the season, although they will have to be at that level again to have any chance of going past Watford in the fifth round.

7) Huddersfield Town (down one)

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It’s fair to say that the momentum David Wagner managed to get going at Huddersfield Town has slowed down.

Three defeats in a row and only one win in Town’s last six has seen them drop down to 17th in the Championship.

The 3-2 loss to Cardiff City on Saturday at home would have been painful, as it was an eminently winnable game.

There is already a sense that it is all about next season at the John Smith’s Stadium, which is always an unfortunate circumstance at the start of February.

8) Doncaster Rovers (down one)

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We called it a blip last week, but Doncaster have now not won in any of their last five games.

That has seen them move from outside hopefuls for the play-off places to 16th in League One.

It curtails the push that they had begun under Darren Ferguson and makes next season more realistic for any promotion challenge.

The 2-1 loss to Walsall at home laid that bare, although the caveat there is that the visitors are now second in the third tier.

9) Guiseley (-)

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Guiseley may have lost on Saturday, but to only lose by one goal against Lincoln City away from home shows their level these days.

They are 18th in the National League still and comfortably safe from relegation at this point.

Hopefully they can sort out their stadium issues so that facilities do not overtake footballing matters.

That is now the concern between now and the end of the campaign ahead of the real risk of 21st place, which they are six points clear of.

10) York City (up two)

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York City achieved an invaluable victory on Saturday, beating Stevenage 2-1.

It gives them two wins, two draws and two losses in their last six, the sort of run they will need to sustain to beat the drop.

It’s unfortunate for York that the gap at the bottom had widened, as it means they remain at the foot of the Football League despite the three points.

However, it means they have only four points to make up to safety with two games in-hand on Yeovil Town in 21st.

11) Sheffield United (down one)

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Sheffield United have not played since our last Power Rankings, but their shambles of a transfer window helps explain their drop.

It has led to recriminations in the press and a huge fallout, with fans of the Blades disappointed by the lack of business.

Admittedly they have a huge squad to manage, but the club could have done with some additions to boost their play-off hopes.

Interview: Sheffield United’s Jim Phipps backing Nigel Adkins to streamline Blades’ squad

12) Bradford City (up one)

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Bradford have climbed off the bottom of the Power Rankings with a victory at the weekend.

The 2-1 victory against Fleetwood Town got them going again after it seemed the season was slipping away from Phil Parkinson’s side.

They are up to 11th in League One, with a suggestion they could still involve themselves in the play-off mix between now and April.

The Bantams do face a horrifically difficult task on Saturday as they travel to league leaders Burton Albion.

13) Rotherham United (down one)

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By any stretch of the imagination, Rotherham’s clash with Charlton on Saturday was a huge game in the context of their season.

It was a match in which they could have pulled away from the relegation zone, something they have struggled to do ever since hitting 21st in the table.

However, the game slipped away from them, the Millers losing 4-1 against another relegation threatened side.

They face bottom of the league Bolton on Saturday. A win is a must.