Something for the weekend? FOUR Yorkshire encounters to get your teeth into ...
There are also big afternoons for the likes of Leeds United, seeking a first home win since March and for the third weekend running, there’s a White Rose derby - with managerless Doncaster Rovers hosting Barnsley in the Pitmen’s Derby.
Here’s the Yorkshire Post guide on four games to watch out for.
1: Rotherham v Burnley. Friday, 7.45pm.
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Hide AdEric Black is entrusted with caretaker managerial duties for the Millers as the club start to map out a brave new world following the exit of Steve Evans and Paul Raynor.
The Scot has insisted that he is only concerning himself with the here and now and not entertaining thoughts of putting himself into contention the permanent post. That might be just as well, with the break for two weeks likely to stall his hopes of generating momentum for his own claims - it has definitely worked against him in that respect.
But the pressing priority is points, with the Millers having not recorded back to back wins in the Championship at home since early February. Do that and Millers supporters will be eternally grateful - although it won’t be easy.
Win against the Clarets and the Millers - temporarily although it may be - will rise to 16th place. That looked a world away a few weeks ago. It will also clinch a third league win on the spin for the first time since the club returned to the Championship. Some feat.
2: Leeds United v Birmingham City, Saturday 3pm.
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Hide AdNever mind last weekend’s loss at Boro and rants against officialdom, it was one of those days that all teams suffer from time to time for Leeds. Of greater concern is the state of the defence. Leeds were woeful, all at sea by the Tees, with defensive afflictions having blighted parts of this season. Even though they won at MK Dons just under a fortnight ago, the hosts carved out a lorry load of chances. While last weekend was a ‘shooting in the foot’ exercise.
Leeds have toiled by and large at home. While much has been made of the side’s inability to sustain a strong performance at Elland Road, where they haven’t won since March, solidity at the back isn’t half a good platform.
Get back to basics is a bit of cliché, but that is what Leeds need to do at the back on Saturday. Take a leaf from Middlesbrough’s defenders’ books on Sunday, who when they had to clear their lines, invariably did.
Going forward, Leeds need to be assertive and busy and set the tempo. They were off colour versus Ipswich and made it all too easy for Brentford to dictate in the previous home game. Put Birmingham - who head into the game following a poor home defeat to Rotherham - on the back foot. It’s Elland Road, for Christ’s sake.
3: Wolves v Huddersfield, Saturday, 12.30pm.
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Hide AdCompared to the middle of September, Town are in a good place after seven points from the last nine.
Wolves may have won 3-0 in midweek at Fulham, but they have only won once at Molineux this term in the Championship and as away grounds go, it is one of the favoured destinations of choice for Huddersfield, who head to Wolves in good heart.
This quarter of the Black Country is positively paved with gold for Town, with Town, who have not lost in eight matches at Molineux since the days of Steve Bull and Andy Mutch in November 1988.
Last season’s win also ended an unbeaten home run stretching back almost ten months for Wolves. Welcome stats if you are of a blue and white persuasion.
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Hide AdLast season’s win was forged on prodigious team work and organisation and fair bit of zest going forward. Can Town perform a repeat dosage?
4: Doncaster Rovers v Barnsley, Saturday, 3pm.
Triumphing in the Pitman’s Derby is high on the ‘to-do’ list for both Rovers and Reds fans when the fixtures are belted out by the computer in June.
How Rovers could do with one at the minute and their beleaguered supporters, justifiably fearful that a poor start to the season could see them entrenched in the bottom six for its entirety.
Four games into his interim spell and Rob Jones is yet to taste the sweet sensation of victory, having been oh so close on Tuesday night.
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Hide AdJones typically fronted up and spoke impressively, passionately and defiantly after the game and while the odds are against him in his quest to be full-time manager, he isn’t bleating about that. And he is the sort who relishes that sort of against-the-odds challenge. Don’t write him off just yet..
If Rovers can replicate a high tempo final half an hour against Swindon when they take the field against the Reds, Jones will be happy. He will be more happy if they keep the back door shut, mind.
It is the first of two derbies for Barnsley, who head to Bradford in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night.
The Reds are in a decent enough place, with one defeat in four matches and squad options too and with league games against two early season strugglers to come against Rovers and Crewe, Lee Johnson’s side need to display a ruthless streak - not easy when you have one of the youngest sides in the league - and go for the jugular with two wins.
Do that and the Reds will be in the thick of the top six.