Power Rankings: Hull rise after Ipswich win while Wednesday slump

The FA Cup may have taken centre stage at the weekend, but important fixtures across the county over the last week have had a major impact on the Power Rankings.
Mohamed Diame, who scored for Hull against Ipswich on Tuesday night.Mohamed Diame, who scored for Hull against Ipswich on Tuesday night.
Mohamed Diame, who scored for Hull against Ipswich on Tuesday night.

Hull City look increasingly comfortable at the top of the Championship after an important win against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night.

Other clubs have fallen down our table due to disappointing results, with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday struggling to sustain momentum.

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How will that impact their respective positions in the Yorkshire Post Power Rankings?

Ashley Fletcher won the game against Doncaster Rovers for BarnsleyAshley Fletcher won the game against Doncaster Rovers for Barnsley
Ashley Fletcher won the game against Doncaster Rovers for Barnsley

Find out where your team stand:

1) Hull City (up one)

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Hull outlined their Premier League credentials on Saturday by travelling to face Arsenal and taking home a 0-0 draw.

Ashley Fletcher won the game against Doncaster Rovers for BarnsleyAshley Fletcher won the game against Doncaster Rovers for Barnsley
Ashley Fletcher won the game against Doncaster Rovers for Barnsley

They defended stoutly against the top flight title contenders to earn an FA Cup fifth round replay.

On Tuesday they faced Ipswich, and continued their fantastic form in the league by winning 1-0 away from home.

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As a result, they deservedly top the Power Rankings after another good week.

2) Barnsley (up one)

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It is a real boon for Barnsley that they have not been badly impacted by the sudden departure of Lee Johnson to Bristol City.

They won against Yorkshire rivals Doncaster on Saturday and managed a 0-0 draw against Bury on Tuesday.

Even if Paul Heckingbottom cannot get them into the play-offs this season, it has to rank as an impressive season for the Tykes.

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Build well in the summer and a return to the Championship could be on the cards.

3) Sheffield Wednesday (down two)

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A good week last time out has not been followed up by Sheffield Wednesday, who have struggled to a loss and a draw since the last rankings.

Their 1-0 loss to Preston came after there had been significant talk of automatic promotion.

The Owls were then held to a 1-1 at home against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night, which dampens the prospects of a top two finish.

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As a result, they have fallen down two places in the Power Rankings.

4) Middlesbrough (up one)

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Middlesbrough needed one thing and one thing alone this week.

They got it on Tuesday, beating Cardiff City at home 3-1 to earn a first victory in six games.

The nature of the win was also impressive. Boro went a goal behind but fought back to comfortably beat a decent opponent.

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While it did not put them back into the top two, it will have given them more momentum going forward.

5) Huddersfield Town (up one)

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Huddersfield Town have followed up last week’s great victory against Nottingham Forest with more impressive results.

They beat Wolves 1-0 at home on Saturday to add another impressive win to to their recent record and drew 1-1 against MK Dons on Tuesday.

Head coach David Wagner also deserves significant praise for the manner in which he has revitalised Nahki Wells in recent weeks.

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Wells has scored four in his last five and his return to form is a welcome boost for Town going into next season.

6) FC Halifax Town (down two)

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A win and a loss in the last two games would probably be considered a decent return for the Shaymen.

They deserve particular praise for triumphing 4-2 against Grimsby Town at the Shay on Saturday, given that Grimsby are third in the division.

While they lost to seventh placed Braintree Town on Tuesday, it is not a result that has sent them back into the relegation zone.

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They are a point and a place clear, which they would be happy with if their position was the same come the end of the season.

7) Leeds United (-)

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Leeds’s season came to a shuddering halt on Saturday when they lost 1-0 against Watford courtesy of Scott Wootton’s own goal.

The FA Cup was the last strand of the campaign left for Leeds to achieve in, which means all they can now aim for is a mid-table finish in the Championship.

They did manage a 1-1 draw against Fulham on Tuesday night courtesy of Lewis Cook’s wonder-strike, but it was not an impressive display overall.

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Promises of a promotion push next season seem a world away right now.

8) Guiseley (-)

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Guiseley may have lost against Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night, but that comes with caveats.

The Lions were up against the second best team in the National League, and held out well until finally being broken down.

They also managed a draw against Altrincham on Saturday, and the combined results keeps them six points above the relegation zone.

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That is why they have retained their spot on the Power Rankings.

9) Bradford City (up one)

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A draw against Rochdale on Saturday put a slight dampener on the momentum that had been brewing at Valley Parade.

However, they move up a place in the Power Rankings due to the poor results around the Bantams.

They travel to Blackpool this weekend, a game they will be hopeful of winning.

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A result there could put their play-off push back on the table.

10) York City (down one)

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Two losses on the spin have put York City back in a position they will be very keen to avoid come April.

They were beaten 3-1 on the road by Cambridge United, before losing 2-1 at home to Northampton Town.

It would be fair to point out that Tuesday’s visitors are the form side in League Two, and a defeat against them is not a huge hammerblow.

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However, the Minstermen will want to bounce back when they face Luton Town on Saturday.

11) Sheffield United (up one)

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Losing 1-0 against Bury last Tuesday seemed to be a real low point for Sheffield United.

They did manage to bounce back on Saturday, beating Port Vale 1-0 at Bramall Lane.

Consistency has been a long-term issue for the Blades this season, and they will need to follow up that win with another against Rochdale on Saturday.

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That is especially the case if they retain any hope of promotion this season.

12) Doncaster Rovers (down one)

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Another week has brought another disappointing result for Doncaster Rovers, and against another Yorkshire rival too.

Last week saw them lose 1-0 to Sheffield United, and this week they fell by the same scoreline to Barnsley away from home.

They are now only four points above the League One relegation zone, hugely aided by a decent run around the turn of the year.

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Results will need to improve soon if they want to be guaranteed safety.

13) Rotherham United (-)

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The introduction of management duo Neil Warnock and Kevin Blackwell has not yet had the desired effect for Rotherham United.

They drew 0-0 against Birmingham City in their first game, following it up with a 2-0 loss against Burnley on Saturday.

On Tuesday the Millers also fell to a 1-0 defeat against Reading, although to be fair to both Warnock and Blackwell, neither of their recent two would have been identified as easily winnable games.

Their main fear will be the gap to 21st growing any more than the current six points, which is, in itself, quite a mountain to climb.