YP Power Rankings: Barnsley hold firm, Rotherham & Leeds United rise while Sheffield Wednesday and Boro plummet

ALL CHANGE is the order of the day in the Yorkshire Post Power Rankings with several movers and shakers rising up the order and others finding themselves jettisoned down in a topsy-turvy week of action as befits the fluctuating nature of the Football League.
Rotherham United and Middlesbrough met at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.Rotherham United and Middlesbrough met at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Rotherham United and Middlesbrough met at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Here’s the updated table, headlined by several eye-catching moves.

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YP: '˜Power Rankings' - Barnsley take pole position as Leeds United & Sheffield ...

1: Barnsley (no change).

Arsenal's Alex Iwobi and Hull City's Curtis Davies battle for the ball during the FA Cup, fifth round replay match at the KC Stadium, Hull.Arsenal's Alex Iwobi and Hull City's Curtis Davies battle for the ball during the FA Cup, fifth round replay match at the KC Stadium, Hull.
Arsenal's Alex Iwobi and Hull City's Curtis Davies battle for the ball during the FA Cup, fifth round replay match at the KC Stadium, Hull.

A model of new year consistency, the Reds deservingly reside at the summit after an excellent 3-1 win at Walsall, a result which saw Saddlers chief and ex-Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll lose his job in its aftermath.

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All told, Barnsley have won ten of their past 12 league outings, with Saturday’s win all the more laudable given that top-scorer Sam Winnall was absent - with young guns Ashley Fletcher and Harry Chapman among those stepping up the plate.

Recent run has seen caretaker head coach Paul Heckingbottom and captain Alfie Mawson nominated for the League One manager and player of the month accolades for February as the Reds aim for a clean sweep like January, when Lee Johnson and Winnall took the gongs.

2: Rotherham United (up six).

Leeds United's Souleymane Doukara turns to celebrate his opening goal against Cardiff City. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)Leeds United's Souleymane Doukara turns to celebrate his opening goal against Cardiff City. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Leeds United's Souleymane Doukara turns to celebrate his opening goal against Cardiff City. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

The Neil Warnock story is proving a truly captivating one, with the veteran boss sprinkling his magic in majestic form at the NYS. So much so that the Millers are now just one point from safety - they were six after the recent loss at Reading - and are basking in the glow of three successive wins at this level for the first time since December 2003.

Some feat that, moreso given the fact that two of the Millers’ scalps have been sides with designs upon promotion in Sheffield Wednesday and Boro. The Millers are together, committed, hard-working and thoroughly organised with their star on the rise.

3: FC Halifax Town (up one).

Arsenal's Alex Iwobi and Hull City's Curtis Davies battle for the ball during the FA Cup, fifth round replay match at the KC Stadium, Hull.Arsenal's Alex Iwobi and Hull City's Curtis Davies battle for the ball during the FA Cup, fifth round replay match at the KC Stadium, Hull.
Arsenal's Alex Iwobi and Hull City's Curtis Davies battle for the ball during the FA Cup, fifth round replay match at the KC Stadium, Hull.
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Despite a midweek defeat at Bromley, Halifax stay in a fair amount of credit thanks to Saturday’s big win at a fellow struggler in Southport, with the Shaymen’s recent results suggesting that they posses the elements required to win in their survival battle. Showing heart and pluck.

4: Huddersfield Town (up two).

A weekend defeat at Derby - and continuing their epic wait for a win in that quarter of the East Midlands - was harsh upon the Terriers, whose recent performances have merited more. Things thankfully came together on Tuesday night with strikes from Nahki Wells, Jamie Paterson and Flo Bojaj earning a 3-1 success over Reading as Town earned three points to marry up with some sound recent performances.

5: Hull City (down three).

Leeds United's Souleymane Doukara turns to celebrate his opening goal against Cardiff City. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)Leeds United's Souleymane Doukara turns to celebrate his opening goal against Cardiff City. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Leeds United's Souleymane Doukara turns to celebrate his opening goal against Cardiff City. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

Hull showed a distinct lack of cutting edge in Thursday’s loss at Birmingham, with the impression lacking that when Abel Hernandez and Mo Diame do not have their shooting boots on, they lack predatory nous with their recent dearth of goals a bit of a worry. Tuesday’s FA Cup loss at home to Arsenal failed to bolster morale, although in the greater scheme of things, it did not come at the expense of Championship points. Of that, fans will be grateful.

6: Bradford City (up three).

To City’s credit, a reaction has been provided following a poor midweek result at home to Colchester with a fine victory over the division’s stand-out side in Burton bound to bolster confidence levels, more especially with key men James Hanson and Rory McArdle being out.

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Two clean sheets, with Bradford drawing 0-0 at Bury on Saturday, is another pleasing development as City spy the play-offs.

7: Leeds United (up three).

Football’s a funny old game, as Steve Evans will attest. Fighting for his managerial life after a desperate defeat at Brighton, wins over Bolton and Cardiff have provided the Scot with succour and breathing space. While the victory over League One bound Wanderers was a non-negotiable, three points at Cardiff was something entirely different as they secured their first win in the Welsh capital since 1984. Arguably one of Leeds’s stand-out results of the season.

8: Sheffield Wednesday (down five).

Five without a win, the Owls are in need of three points and fast to steady the ship after a barren recent result, although a commendable midweek point at Brighton is not to be sniffed at. A derby defeat to Rotherham most definitely was not what the doctor ordered as the Owls went down to their first home loss since August. With one goal also scored in four matches, Wednesday need to sharpen up.

9: Middlesbrough (down four).

2016 is turning out to be an exercise in sheer frustration for Boro, whose lamentable and brittle form on the road against the Championship’s lesser lights is putting their automatic hopes in serious jeopardy - with one point taken from trips to the Millers, Bristol City and MK Dons. It’s a worrying trait, with Boro’s lack of fight at a critical juncture pretty damning.

10: Guiseley (down one).

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Thwarted by the weather at the weekend, the Lions showed character to come from behind to take a point against play-off chasing Tranmere at the weekend. Their form isn’t outstanding, but they are chipping in away in their quest to reach fifty points.

11: Sheffield United (up two).

Showed some resolve in adversity to nick a point at Fleetwood at the weekend to prevent a drama lurching into a crisis to at least put the wedge into the door after back to back losses to Rochdale and Burton.

12: York City (down one).

Desperate defeat at Dagenham at the weekend was as grave as anyone sustained by the Minstermen this season as they became the first side to be beaten by the Daggers on their own patch this term. Increasingly parlous plight for York in their quest to clinch safety. Time and hope running out.

13: Doncaster Rovers (down two).

Rovers have lurched into a full-blown crisis following successive losses to Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury and are ten matches without a win and lacking resolve, belief, character and quality. Wretched times for Darren Ferguson and Rovers supporters, with the unpalatable thought of a second relegation in three seasons looming if things don’t change.