Five things ahead of the midweek football for Yorkshire’s clubs

For the South Yorkshire trio of Sheffield United, Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers, autumn hasn’t been a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but a largely bleak time. And we haven’t even reached winter yet.

On the Christmas present list for supporters of each - and also messrs Adkins, Johnson and Ferguson - will be a hankering for some precious consistency in terms of results and performances. Or in layman’s terms, a few more wins. Ditto for York City manager Jackie McNamara.

One manager currently does have reason to smile in Bradford City’s Phil Parkinson, although going overboard is just not the Parky Way, despite a nine-match unbeaten streak.

Not a manager to pop the champagne corks when things are going well, but equally not one to pop the pills when fortunes take a nosedive. Grounded is the phrase.

All five of Yorkshire’s League One and Two contingent take the field tonight. Here’s a few pointers, courtesy of the Yorkshire Post.

1: One swallow doesn’t make a summer (or autumn), Barnsley...

The Reds’ recent winless streak was epic, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons with Lee Johnson’s side on the cusp of equalling the club’s worst-ever streak of league losses in over fifty years since 1952-53 prior to an oh-so-relieving Roses win at Oldham. It ended a horror run of eight successive League One reverses.

With increased options, the treatment room clearly and precious signs of confidence starting to emerge, the Reds now call in tonight at Peterborough, whose own confidence levels are sky-high after a 5-1 weekend win at Crewe.

Some would say that Barnsley could have done without a midweek game to enable them to bask in the glow, comparatively, of a rare victory.

But equally, if they can get a positive result at London Road - with Posh fans no doubt fully expecting three points tonight - suddenly Johnson and his troops have some badly-needed momentum ahead of Saturday’s South Yorkshire derby and the damage of a torrid six weeks can start to be repaired in earnest.

2: On a strong run of form, it’s a perfect time for Bradford City to make a statement.

City’s home game with leaders Coventry City tonight is the stand-out fixture in League One and is one that seriously whets the appetite. Phil Parkinson has called for a ‘cup-tie intensity’ - mindful of the club’s prowess par excellence in the knock-out competitions in recent years and victory tonight will be another famous occasion, if not quite at the exalted heights of topping the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Sunderland.

But in the greater scheme of things, it is a match which is just as important for City, currently keeping clean sheets for fun and on a nine-match winless streak. Now is the time for Bradford to show that they are the real deal in League One, roared on by a raucous crowd.

3: Doncaster slipped up on Saturday, but Darren Ferguson is remaining calm. Let’s hope it remains that way come the final whistle tonight.

After three successive wins and clean sheets, Rovers weekend loss to Rochdale was a disappointment, although boss Ferguson is keeping a sense of perspective with his side being six minutes away from recording their fourth shut-out in a row.

Tonight’s clash with near-neighbours Chesterfield is afforded spice by the return of ex-Rovers chief Dean Saunders and a reaction to Saturday would be opportune given that Doncaster face a toughie at Coventry at the weekend. Rovers looked flat in parts against Rochdale and lacked a cutting edge following the loss to injury of Keshi Anderson.

Tonight looks one of those occasions where Rovers will need to man up and dig deep to get over the line. A dog-eared 1-0 win would be just the job.

4: Sheffield United’s need to stop a mini dip in results is imperative - for all manner of reasons.

Nigel Adkins is the first to acknowledge that the Blades current position of 11th is far from what he - and supporters - expected before a ball was kicked in August. The campaign has not yet got going at all and some supporters - the ones who aren’t just plain wary - are becoming more agitated at every turn or unwanted development. A sub-standard result against Shrews will significantly increase the discontent, with Adkins call for his players to front up and be mentally strong tonight being a shrewd one.

Being proactive and endeavouring to make things happen and not just taking the safe option is a must, against a struggling side who would be justified in making no apologies for parking the bus at the Lane.

That’s what visiting teams do when they come up against 20,000 expectant and demanding home fans. The Blades need to find a way and a positive and convincing win this evening can set their stall out for the key winter period.

5: It’s a grim time for York and the fixture list has hardly afforded them any favours tonight.

On a run of sixth successive defeats - the club longest run of consecutive losses in 27 years - York needed a long trip to divisional heavyweights Portsmouth like a hole in the head tonight, you’d venture.

Another defeat tonight at Fratton Park will put them within one game of equalling the club’s longest run of league defeats on the spin. Not that sort of record you want to have anything to do with.

With boss Jackie McNamara eager to freshen up his squad and put his own imprint on things, while also somehow get consistent results, it’s the toughest of baptisms in the English management game for the Scot.

Any sort of result on the south coast would be a big one for McNamara and York. But there is a chink of hope. York have actually not been beaten by Pompey since returning to the Football League.

Records show you have to go back to September 1979 for York’s last defeat to the Hampshire outfit and if that record is preserved tonight, there will be cause for a minor celebration.