A look ahead to Boxing Day: Where the best action is for Yorkshire clubs ...

SICK of turkey, pigs-in-blankets, fine wines, cheese and port and need some fresh Boxing Day air after being all partied out on Christmas Day?
Hull City take on Burnley.Hull City take on Burnley.
Hull City take on Burnley.

Well if you are - and you are football minded, there’s a few treats out there.

It’s a big day at both ends of the table from Barnsley to Bradford and Sheffield United to Sheffield Wednesday. Here’s four spicy Boxing Day games.

 

Doncaster Rovers take on Scunthorpe United again.Doncaster Rovers take on Scunthorpe United again.
Doncaster Rovers take on Scunthorpe United again.

1: Hull v Burnley - Something has to give ...

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The Tigers recent record against Burnley is pretty terrible and their recent form very average.

If Steve Bruce’s boys need encouragement, the Clarets are in far from vintage health either, with their recent 4-0 win over Charlton exceedingly flattering by all accounts.

Hull need a pep up after flattering to deceive in poor derby losses to Leeds and Rotherham.

Former Barnsley boss David Flitcroft welcomes the Tykes to Bury on Boxing Day.Former Barnsley boss David Flitcroft welcomes the Tykes to Bury on Boxing Day.
Former Barnsley boss David Flitcroft welcomes the Tykes to Bury on Boxing Day.

Beating their recent nemesis - who have won nine of their past 10 outings with the Tigers - would do nicely.

 

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2: Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham - Can the Owls break into those play-off spots?

The Owls are in good heart after destroying a defensively anaemic Wolves last time out, on a day when they could have bagged a lot more goals than the four they managed.

Still yet to beat a top-eight side though and they face a Blues outfit who could have the likes of key men Clayton Donaldson and David Cotterill back in the line-up.

A win would certainly be just the ticket and maybe a statement ahead of the big trip to Boro.

 

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3: Doncaster v Scunthorpe - The perfect opponents for Rovers ...

Scunthorpe’s trips to the Keepmoat have usually resulted in one thing - a defeat, with the Iron having never won at the stadium with Rovers desperate for that to continue to maintain their impressive form under Darren Ferguson.

If Donny triumph against Scunny, who they have beaten in their last seven meetings, they will definitely start emerging from under the League One radar.

A fair crowd is expected at the Keepmoat - including a fair few returning punters who had grown disappointed with some lamentable home form over the past few years.

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A perfect time to get them back onside - and to persuade them that Rovers are on to something good.

 

4: Bury v Barnsley - The ex-factor ...

It is one of their devilish quirks of the fixture list which pits one beleaguered manager against another who was sacked by that club previously.

Lee Johnson’s Barnsley reign is teetering and he badly needs a few wins - not that ex-Reds boss Dave Flitcroft will do him any favours after being axed by Barnsley in his last managerial gig - managers have long memories.

Fellow former Oakwell managers Keith Hill and Micky Mellon have already dined out at their one-time employers expense and had the last laugh this season.

Johnson desperately needs to avoid an unwanted hat-trick.