Sheffield United looked to have found the winning formula only to be denied by Fulham in a 3-3 draw at Bramall Lane meaning they now sit 10 points from safety with nine games remaining and ahead of Thuesday’s trip to Anfield to take on Premier League high-fliers, Liverpool. Is there any hope of survival?
Continuing the theme of those teams from the White Rose struggling down the bottom of the standings, Stuart Rayner, Leon Wobschall and host Mark Singleton also discuss the survival chances of Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
Also, it is time to salute the patience of both fans and owners at Doncaster Rovers, who made it five wins on the trot to give themselves an outside chance of making the League Two play-offs. Can they gatecrash the top seven with a continued late surge and extend their season?
Continuing the theme of those teams from the White Rose struggling down the bottom of the standings, Stuart Rayner, Leon Wobschall and host Mark Singleton also discuss the survival chances of Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
Also, it is time to salute the patience of both fans and owners at Doncaster Rovers, who made it five wins on the trot to give themselves an outside chance of making the League Two play-offs. Can they gatecrash the top seven with a continued late surge and extend their season?
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:05 Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Football Talk from the Yorkshire Post,
00:09 where we'll be discussing some of the latest talking points from the world of football with members of our football writing team.
00:13 On this week's episode, we're joined by Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Stuart Rayner,
00:17 and Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Bjorn Wopshall, to discuss all of the latest developments affecting our local clubs.
00:23 Don't forget you can keep up to date with all the football news across Yorkshire and beyond
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00:47 or email us directly with a subject matter as Football Talk Podcast at yp.sport@nationalworld.com.
00:53 YorkshirePost.co.uk
00:56 As mentioned earlier in the intro, this week we're joined by Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Stuart Rayner,
01:01 and Football Writer for the Yorkshire Post, Bjorn Wopshall. Good morning guys.
01:04 Morning. Hello. Morning.
01:06 Right, this week saw the return of league action, and Hull City fell to a 2-0 defeat when they welcomed Stoke City,
01:14 which was followed by a 3-1 defeat when they faced Leeds United.
01:17 Rotherham United fell to a 3-0 defeat against Preston North End, before being able to stave off relegation by beating Millwall 2-1.
01:25 Middlesbrough shared the points in their 1-1 draw with Southampton, and we'll cover them later on in the podcast.
01:31 Leeds United claimed a late point in their 2-1 draw with Watford, before reclaiming 2nd place with that 3-1 win, as mentioned earlier.
01:41 And in League 1, Barnsley fell to a 2-0 defeat when they faced Cambridge United.
01:47 In League 2, Harrogate Town played out a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon, before claiming an emphatic 5-1 victory over Gillingham.
01:55 And Bradford City claimed a useful 3 points in their 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers,
02:00 as well as Doncaster Rovers walking away with all 3 points in their 2-0 victory over Crawley Town.
02:07 And we'll also be covering them later on in the podcast this week as well.
02:11 But let's start this week in the Premier League with Sheffield United, who seemed to agonisingly let 3 vital points slip through their hands in their 3-0 draw with Fulham.
02:23 Now, what do the Blades take from this result, and how do they go into their upcoming game against Liverpool, Stuart?
02:30 Well, I was very critical and a lot of people were very critical about their performance against Arsenal and about a lot of their home performances recently.
02:41 So, as we've said numerous times on this podcast over the last few weeks about them and Rotherham in particular, it was important they just showed some fight.
02:50 And they really did in that game.
02:53 They were under the pump at times, they conceded a goal quickly after taking the lead and immediately at that point you worry about whether a team is going to cave in, frankly, after their recent home form.
03:11 But they really stuck in the game. They scored 3, they had a 4th disallowed for a tight VAR call.
03:19 I think for where Sheffield United are, it was quite an encouraging performance.
03:26 I mean, if you look at all 3 goals conceded, if you look at them from a Fulham perspective, they were all great goals.
03:36 As is often the way, if you look at them from a Sheffield United perspective, they were all a bit poor in terms of the space they left them.
03:44 And the 4th goal Tom Kearney ought to have scored in the 16th added minute would have fallen into that category as well.
03:51 But apart from those, whatever it was, 20 seconds, the other 106 and a half minutes of defending, there was a lot of really good stuff in there.
04:01 Really throwing their bodies in the way, really getting stuck in.
04:05 And I think it was the sort of performance Bramall Lane needed to see as much as anything else.
04:12 So, they can take some comfort from that. Ultimately, if they're just not quite good enough, you can work on it, but there's limits to what you can do about that.
04:24 But you have to look after that character, that pride, that professionalism.
04:29 And we saw that. So, they can go to Liverpool in good heart in that respect.
04:35 Obviously, if they keep making those tiny defensive errors at Anfield, that's one of the worst places to make it.
04:43 It could be very costly indeed, but if we see more of that spirit, we shouldn't see a repeat of the Arsenal game, for example, where they made it too easy for a much better team.
04:54 So long as they continue to make it difficult for other teams, I think that's the main thing for them.
05:00 So, I think it was a lot more positive than negative for them on Saturday.
05:05 Yeah, I mean, I think if you're looking at it realistically and sensibly, it's going to take something remarkable and miraculous to keep them up, really, isn't it?
05:14 You know, Stuart's right to say, seeing an in-character Bramall Lane, with the fans all behind them having something to buy into,
05:26 something we haven't seen enough of this season. We've both seen it in better times.
05:33 Yeah, that was a step in the right direction in that regard on Saturday, especially after some of the pumpings that they've had.
05:41 You know, the Bryans, the Arsenals and God knows who else, really. Aston Villas and Newcastle, you name it.
05:49 I felt them a little bit. I only watched the highlights. Stuart was there.
05:52 It was very, very tight to make it 4-1, so I felt for them in that regard.
05:57 You know, it tends to be when you're down there, you don't get those little pockets of luck that maybe you do if you're up there fighting for something.
06:08 But, you know, you look at some of the games that they've got left at home. They've got Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, games that hopefully Burnley,
06:18 games that hopefully can replicate that type of attacking performance against Fulham.
06:23 But as Stuart said, just try and be a little bit stronger and on message defensively.
06:29 Well, that's really been the problem this season, hasn't it? That defensive aspect.
06:34 We spoke about it before at length on the podcast.
06:38 You know, they had so much to do at the end of the summer window.
06:42 It just wasn't addressed and it's one of the big reasons that that's what they're going to pay for.
06:49 You just hope for their sake that they don't suffer any more sort of huge beatings because they've had a hell of a lot of punishment this year, haven't they?
06:58 You know, they just outran a few of the games. You know, the Arsenals, the Newcastles and the supporters.
07:07 You know, their father clubs have thickened in and they've had the humiliation in that regard.
07:12 And players have took a lot of punishment. But Stuart said that in the go to Liverpool, you've just got to be so on point with your organisation, your distances, your discipline.
07:23 You name it, because if you're just out of kilter sliding, you'll decide as strong as Liverpool will just expose you time after time and ruthlessly.
07:33 But yeah, I think there was more in terms of the Fulham game. There was more to be certainly infused about, given what's gone before.
07:42 I think, you know, Neil mentioned the home games to come. I think there's opportunities there.
07:48 If they can just get one win to really sit in the memory over the summer.
07:54 You know, we've seen people know Chelsea have been vulnerable this season. You know, we saw Middlesbrough beat them in the League Cup at the Riverside.
08:03 If you catch them on the right day, and as Leon says, if you're on point, that's quite possible.
08:08 You know, Burnley, nothing to fear, obviously. Nottingham Forest will be under their own pressures.
08:15 And, you know, even when Tottenham are there on the final day of the season, if Tottenham have already secured European football or what have you.
08:24 You know, I remember a time a couple of years ago when they went to a Newcastle team that had been relegated in those circumstances, I think on the last day of the season, and lost 5-1.
08:33 You know, if Sheffield United can just produce a performance from one of those games, and you know, we saw what Ben Berrett and Diaz is capable of on his day.
08:43 Not that we didn't know already from his time as a Blackburn. You know, if Olly McBurnie has a good day, if Vinnie Souza has a good day, people like this.
08:51 They've got it within them, and it would just be nice after such a miserable time since Christmas, if they can just sign off with something, you know, positive.
09:03 You know, in a way, I know we're not going to talk about them later, but in the way Rotherham did by beating Millwall.
09:08 If they could just produce a moment like that, I think that would mean a lot, and that would just give them something to build on next season.
09:15 I think that's all the fans are after, Stuart. I think the overwhelming majority there, they know the score, they've been here before.
09:23 They're just wanting, you know, some prided performances, hopefully one or two results.
09:29 You know, a spirit and 100% from those in the Sheffield United jersey. And you know, it's not really too much to ask, is it?
09:37 No, and I think that's how most of them will judge the game at Anfield, because as Leon said, you know, you're up against such a good team,
09:44 there's every chance that Sheffield United could play really well and lose.
09:47 So you've kind of got to judge it more on those qualities that Leon was talking about. And I think most realistic fans will.
09:54 Yeah. And next, we turn to Huddersfield Town, who fell to a 3-1 defeat against Coventry City before showing the point in their one-all draw with Stoke City.
10:03 This now sees the Terriers just one point from safety, and it is just so incredibly tight at the foot of the table.
10:10 With two relegation places still to be decided, how do you see Andre Brighton-Wrighters' side going into their game against Millwall Leon?
10:18 Huge, huge football match, isn't it? Absolutely. I mean, Stuart went to the… I did the home game against Coventry on Friday.
10:28 Stuart did the Stoke game, and yeah, I mean, the Stoke game was, in the greater scheme of things, even though they're all big at the minute, that was a huge football match.
10:40 Huddersfield got a point, which they proved, unfortunately, specialist at this season. It will look a decent point only if they beat Millwall on Saturday.
10:52 It's as simple as that. You look at aspects of Huddersfield over East, I suppose the tick in the box is that Healy scored his first goal.
11:03 The club had Lovic scored as well, and I read Reg Stewart's report. You could see how much it meant to them.
11:10 Obviously, if Huddersfield are going to get out of this situation, they're going to need some of the January signings to put their hands up, and more especially those two.
11:21 But I think it's just getting to the crunch now, isn't it? We'll probably speak a bit more about the overall situation later.
11:28 Huddersfield have won eight games this season, and we're into April now. For a side that were fighting for their lives, it's not enough, is it?
11:37 It's as simple as that. What, eight points? He's 24 points, and you add on, you know, a hell of a lot of draws, 16.
11:45 It is why they are where they are. I just think, when I watch Stewart, I look at this weekend, and there's obviously five or six games left.
11:57 This looks a huge one, doesn't it? We've still got Sheffield Wednesday, they've got QPR away, Huddersfield against Millwall.
12:04 It's a good game on paper for Huddersfield, but the way that Millwall and QPR will look at it, they'll think of it.
12:13 If we can win either of these games, that's us. We've got a nice buffer there, and we're almost out of it.
12:19 So, two huge games. I think I did the game on Friday. It's fair to say Coventry are, I'm not being disrespectful, but there are a few levels above Huddersfield at the minute.
12:30 They have their own issues. They obviously had a lot of players on international duty in the CONCACAF.
12:38 They had the big emotional high in the Cup against Wolves. They weren't at full pelt, but they still had moments of enough quality to comfortably better Huddersfield.
12:54 There was a little bit of a go towards the end from Town. He made some good substitutions, Brian Reiter. He brought on Jones, he brought on Ben Wiles and Healey as well.
13:06 So, there was something there. A point would have been great, but Coventry always had the class for me.
13:13 I don't know what's due. I don't think there's anything wrong with Huddersfield. With the spirit, they're all putting in the ship.
13:20 They're all trying their hardest. There's a fair amount of organisation, but I sort of watch the minutes.
13:26 It's just decision making, when they get in good areas, picking out the rapport and having that care. The quick thinking, the close control.
13:39 I watch Coventry and they were just far slicker and far better. There's nothing wrong with Huddersfield's application, but it's just that ruthlessness and thought.
13:50 I'm just hoping they can sort that out and find a way to chisel out victories. I don't see them hammering teams or anything like that.
14:02 I think it will be a slog to get the points, but this Millwall game, I think it's a huge one. It's really telling. Millwall went to Rotherham and got beaten.
14:13 They're not among the best sides and they're not out of relegation trouble just yet. Huge football match for town on Saturday.
14:23 I think one thing that stood out for me, and when you don't see a team in every game, sometimes you can read too much into one specific one.
14:31 That was the third time in the last six games that Huddersfield have been winning at half-time and not won the game.
14:38 When Leon Munch had substituted, it's been a big issue, a big talking point at Huddersfield since the Rotherham game, hasn't it?
14:46 There are quite a few players. I asked Brighton Riter about it after the game. They managed the first half really well, took a 1-0 lead.
14:58 They just didn't seem to have anything left in the tank in the second half. Stoke played well and put them under a lot of pressure.
15:06 Brodie Spencer and Matthew Pearson in particular defended well but they didn't really seem to have much to throw back at them.
15:15 I asked Brighton Riter about it afterwards and he was adamant that he does have the players to play the way he wants to play because we talk about energy and high intensity.
15:27 He did say that a lot of players, including Radlovic, don't have 90 minutes in their legs at the moment because of the injury problems they've had earlier in the season or in some cases earlier in their career.
15:41 He was saying it's really important that if you start, you give me 60 minutes or 45 minutes or whatever it is you've got.
15:50 Then the man that replaces you has got the other 30 in the tank or whatever. I think clever use of substitutes is going to be really important.
16:00 In fairness to Huddersfield, they did have a few chances at the back end of the game.
16:05 Most football matches, the last five minutes can be a little bit deceptive because it's just kitchen sink time from the team that's chasing a victory.
16:15 That's essentially what happened with Huddersfield. Birdsong didn't really have the composure, the quality, the decision-making, the things that Leon's talking about to make the most of those little opportunities they had.
16:31 That's my worry from Huddersfield. Leon's already mentioned the draws. Too many draws and too many games that they just haven't been able to see out.
16:42 You suspect if you're a team playing against Huddersfield or if you're a manager playing against Huddersfield, your message to your players would be about being patient.
16:52 Don't fret too much if we're a couple of goals down after an hour because over the piece, we can get back into this.
17:02 It's something Huddersfield need to address as best they can. It's obviously difficult to do in the middle of the season when you're talking about fitness.
17:10 Perhaps some of it will ultimately come between the years. We know Huddersfield have got some real, proper professionals in that team.
17:20 Sometimes it's just about giving that little bit extra when there isn't really anything left in the tank just because you're desperate to get three points or even one point for Huddersfield Town.
17:30 It's just been that consistency to the attacking players and that's why they've had so many draws.
17:37 You just hope they have another option in Danny Ward. Whether it's to bring on his back, but even if he can give half an hour or a half just to chip in because they need some help.
17:55 Another thing on Friday I noticed against Coventry, it probably sounds a bit like picking on Bird's Lock weekend because I know he had a big opportunity to set up a winner on Monday at Stokes.
18:10 The amount of times he was offside on Friday, just inexcusable. Just paying attention, looking across the line.
18:18 It must have been a good half a dozen times. Just real sloppiness. At this stage of the season you just can't be having things like that.
18:28 You look at Huddersfield's numbers and Mickledell, the top scorer with nine goals. I think last season, wasn't it, Mattie Pearson?
18:39 It was in Eastport five or six, didn't they? Therein lies a bit of a story. But on the positive side, if there is one, it's a decent enough game on paper mill wall at home, isn't it?
18:56 For me, it's a no excuses game. I think with the moot music amongst the Huddersfield fans, if they don't manage to win that, there's going to be a huge amount of pessimism and negativity to get over.
19:12 Something else for the players and staff to contend with, Brighton Riders have been almost getting out of the prayer mat to say to supporters, 'Look, please, back us. We need you behind us.'
19:29 I think for Brighton Riders, who haven't really got massive individual stars in Huddersfield, they're going to need everyone to make a contribution, whether it's whoever on the bench, whoever starts the game, whoever comes on and those in the stand.
19:43 I do fear that if they don't manage to beat Millwall, let's hope they do, there's going to be so much doubt and elements of social media. We know what that's all about these days, saying, 'Well, that's it, we're down.' That sort of thing.
20:00 That's going to be a huge thing to contend with if they don't manage to win.
20:03 I think the thing is, we've been quite negative about them with just cause, but the fact of the matter is, they've been doing just about enough to stay in things. We've got six games left, there's only a point in it. It's their fault.
20:18 Absolutely.
20:19 Not just Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday we're about to talk about, but for Plymouth and everyone else, it's alive and that's the main thing. As Leon says, that little extra push from the supporters, that could tip the balance, that really could.
20:36 Next on the list is Sheffield Wednesday, who saw the point shared in their 1-1 draw with Swansea City, which was then followed by their 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough. This now sees the Owls just two points off safety, with a trip to Queen's Park Rangers next on the cards for them.
20:50 What did you make of the recent run of form and looking to Middlesbrough, how useful will those three points be for them, Leon?
20:58 It was desperately disappointing from a Sheffield Wednesday perspective. I thought it was a decent enough game on paper. I know that Borough have picked it up a little bit, but their home form has been a real millstone this season.
21:16 They've beaten Leicester, West Brom and Norwich, but you look at some of the sides they've lost against. I think before the game against Wednesday, the only team they've beaten in the bottom half was Birmingham.
21:29 They've lost to Plymouth, who are going to speak about Plymouth in a short while. Their form has just gone off a cliff, hasn't it? Their last win was at Middlesbrough, but they've lost a few others.
21:40 QPR have beaten them, Millwall have beaten them, Stoke have beaten them. They've got 10 players out on Monday. It was a good opportunity.
21:49 If Sheffield Wednesday were tuned in and showcased the best elements of a Danny Roll side, I think they would have had a good chance.
22:01 It was just so disheartening from their perspective. They started off okay, then they conceded a poor goal towards half-time. I think that's another thing with Wednesday, isn't it?
22:13 Whether it's Roll or before that, they've conceded some really sloppy goals, haven't they? From set plays and switching off and decision-making. They just never seem to recover from that.
22:26 Half-time came at a good time for them to regroup, but the second half, it just looked to me as a team of individuals doing their own thing.
22:34 They weren't putting enough, plain speaking, enough running. They just clocked off mentally, I thought.
22:45 They'd obviously had a beating at Ipswich last time out on the road. It's just so disappointing.
22:55 If you look at Sheffield Wednesday, they've done a lot of good things under Danny Roll. To get in that position, to have a fighting chance, they'd probably have taken this, wouldn't they?
23:04 Back in mid to late autumn. 23 defeats, that's horrendous. Don't get me wrong, they've had quite a few bonus ball victories.
23:16 But therein lies the story. You look at the season now, they've got Blackburn and Stoke as well coming up. It's a huge weekend and a huge spell in the season.
23:34 You just hope that both Huddersfield and Wednesday can get a couple of positive results in the next week or else you fear we've spoken up this survival race, haven't we?
23:44 All these teams being in it this time and the other. But if they're not careful, it could peter out.
23:51 The hope is that Wednesday before, I did the Huddersfield game a few months ago. They imploded in that game for 20 minutes and you wondered how they're going to pick themselves up from this.
24:06 They managed to do it but they're going to have to do it again. Danny and himself and Stuart have seen him at close quarters.
24:13 He's a good guy and a very talented coach. He does keep positive and he protects his players. But he was absolutely furious on Monday.
24:24 You could see it in his face. He did a radio interview, he did TV and then he came into the written press.
24:31 There was everything that he doesn't like, he suspects, as a coach. There was no discipline without the ball. There was no intensity.
24:42 Heads dropped. It wasn't a Danny Roll sign. He's called the players out. He said, "Look, I've protected them since I've been here but I can't defend that."
24:52 He was right to throw down the gauntlet to them. Let's see what they're about in the game at QPR. QPR have done pretty well recently but the home form isn't great.
25:06 Hopefully the players take that on the chin and just find something from somewhere. They'll certainly get it from the stands.
25:13 I know that Wednesday's supporters were absolutely brilliant in the second half. They were 2-0 down and just sang even louder. They really got behind them.
25:22 They deserve something after what happened on Monday for sure.
25:26 I remember saying in January, so it's not irretrievable, but it feels like they've run out of a bit of momentum.
25:35 In their defence, obviously, they've gone four games without a win. Those first two games were leads in it, which weren't games you'd budget for wins in.
25:45 It just feels like they've run out of a bit of steam. When you look at it, you look at Barnsley where they had the opportunity to go into the automatic promotion place in League 1.
25:55 You look at Harrogate when they were on the verge of the League 2 play-off places. I think I'm right in saying that in all of those four games, Sheffield Wednesday could have got out of the relegation zone for the first time since the relegation zone was relevant.
26:09 It just feels like they've been able to get up to that point but just making that next step is just an extra psychological hurdle as we've seen with those clubs as well.
26:18 Whether that's a factor or not, I don't know. I saw them against Swansea and they were in control of the game for a lot of the time in the sense that Swansea had loads of possession.
26:32 I think they had 73% of the ball in the first half. On Wednesday, they had seven times more shots than them.
26:38 The way managers talk about it, controlling the game without having the ball, but they didn't have that little bit of extra oomph.
26:44 As I say, the Leeds and Ipswich games, you could budget for that and accept that.
26:50 But in these two most recent games, as Leon says, Middlesbrough were really there for the taking with the way their season is going and the injuries they're having.
27:00 Similar with Swansea, they just don't feel yet as though they've been able to take that extra step.
27:08 Those quotes Leon was talking about, they really let off the page when I read them.
27:14 It's the first time I can think of, I could be wrong here because my memory's not the best, where Danny Roll's really gone for them like that.
27:21 Hopefully, that 6-0 defeat at Ipswich didn't seem to have the same effect as that Huddersfield defeat.
27:28 Hopefully, these comments and what's said in training this week can just spur them on.
27:33 They just feel like they need an extra kick now to really push on.
27:39 As I say, they can do it because if you look at the season under Roll, there's been ebbs and flows.
27:45 They've not been terminal when they've had these poor periods, but they just need to find something extra in themselves.
27:53 As Leon says, there's some huge games coming up in terms of if they can find it.
27:59 There's some real opportunities. If they don't, there's real trouble.
28:02 They've got to finally find something from within Stuart, haven't they?
28:06 Sorry for the term, but if you look at the supporters, they've been through the mill this season. There's all sorts of things behind the scenes.
28:16 But, they've said that they've admired that and they've bought into what Danny Roll has shown.
28:23 It won't take much, they just want something to buy into, don't they?
28:26 If they can turn that around at Kewpitt, for instance.
28:31 There's no excuses here. They've been coached well from Danny Roll.
28:37 The staff are together. The training ground has been a decent vibe.
28:42 It certainly wasn't the case under Roll's predecessor, was it?
28:47 They've just got to summon up something from within.
28:50 There's enough going on around them and other clubs who are having issues as well.
28:55 They're still in the game, but it's a huge game at Kewpitt.
29:03 Judging by the performance on Monday, it'd be difficult to know what side he actually will pick.
29:11 He's got a fair few issues there.
29:14 That was the worrying thing to me. They were just doing their own thing.
29:20 Some of them were tracking back, some of them weren't. Some of them were leaving markers.
29:25 Basic things in a football match. If it's not going well for you, which it wasn't for Wednesday,
29:31 at least just give everything and empty the tank.
29:36 There just wasn't enough of that for me on the day.
29:41 A good thing in some respects, it probably should have been a 3-4-0.
29:47 Middlesby missed a penalty. They lacked a bit of ruthlessness in front of goal,
29:53 which has probably been a big thing in their season.
29:58 It could easily have been a really heavy defeat for Wednesday.
30:03 Thankfully, it wasn't in that regard.
30:06 I think Middlesby are just having a bit of fun, aren't they?
30:09 You saw the thing a month or so ago.
30:13 They got beaten by the Plymouth game, they lost that.
30:17 They followed up and lost Stoke.
30:19 They really were starting to look over their shoulders, weren't they?
30:22 Thinking, "We might get dragged in here if we're not careful."
30:26 It's been that sort of season, hasn't it?
30:28 They didn't win for the first seven or eight games.
30:30 Then they went on a really golden patch.
30:34 They've been a bit like that, haven't they?
30:36 This season they've had these real rough trots.
30:39 Then they picked up and lost their way again.
30:42 I think injuries have been a pretty common theme as well.
30:47 It's probably one of the narratives of the season.
30:50 At least they seem to be finishing the season nicely.
30:53 I don't really buy into this sort of play-off talk, this, that and the other.
30:57 They've just got to take it game by game.
31:00 You look at some of the games they've got left.
31:02 They've got to go to Ipswich, they've got to play Leeds at home,
31:05 they've got to go to Hull.
31:07 I suppose on the other side of the coin,
31:09 the way that they're playing, they could potentially be a dangerous opponent
31:13 for one or two of these.
31:16 They seem to have got their mojo back at least.
31:21 I think probably the encouraging thing mainly is the fact that
31:26 they're starting to look a little bit stronger defensively,
31:29 which is a bit averted in the respect that they've got so many defenders injured.
31:34 They had Johnny Howson playing at centre-half for the last two games.
31:38 He was strolling around like Beresi on Monday,
31:41 which probably says more about Sheffield Wednesday than it does about Johnny.
31:48 He's a good pro, but I think they've only conceded one goal in five.
31:53 Given some of their problems defensively, that's encouraging.
31:58 They've just got to carry on, haven't they?
32:01 Have a bit of fun, try and get some positivity to finish what's been
32:06 a difficult season in some respects, hasn't it?
32:09 I still think they've a fair bit to look forward to.
32:13 They didn't go mad in the January market, did they?
32:16 You think they might have a little bit up the jumper to maybe spend in the summer.
32:23 They were decent on Monday, but it was difficult to really judge it
32:29 because Wednesday was so lousy.
32:31 For Middlesbrough, particularly for Michael Carrick,
32:34 this has just got to go down as a learning season, hasn't it?
32:37 I think the core of that squad have shown that you back them into a corner
32:44 and they're capable of fighting their way out of it.
32:47 You can't constantly make them take it to the brink
32:50 because sooner or later your luck's going to run out.
32:53 You can't just build up the drama and leave it for the last day.
33:00 They've got to start looking after themselves, it's as simple as that.
33:05 I wanted to ask you both, how do you see this season's relegation fight
33:10 in the Championship shaping up, seeing as we're now past the Easter fixtures
33:15 at the moment, Stuart?
33:17 I think every time you think, 'Oh, that team's done for,
33:21 that team's shown a bit of fight', it all goes out the window, doesn't it?
33:25 Suddenly, Birmingham will magically win from somewhere
33:29 or Sheffield Wednesday's winning run will come to an end.
33:32 It's so topsy-turvy.
33:34 Of course, the twist this week has been Plymouth attacking Ian Foster.
33:38 I know that Leon and I both agree it feels like a massive missed opportunity
33:44 for them not to get Neil Warnock in.
33:46 As soon as you've got Neil Warnock in the manager's office,
33:49 your chances of staying up improve dramatically.
33:52 It'll be interesting to see how the director of football takes things,
33:57 whether we do see a new manager bounce or not.
34:00 It's not always a given.
34:02 Plymouth have been really dragged back into it by their poorer waveform.
34:08 From a Yorkshire perspective, we're really hoping that Rotherham
34:13 can delay the inevitable again and do everyone else a favour
34:16 by beating them on Friday night.
34:18 Maybe there's a bit of freedom about Rotherham now.
34:21 You often see it when a team...
34:23 Normally it's after relegations have been mathematically confirmed.
34:27 They'll suddenly start to chip in a couple of wins.
34:30 Fingers crossed they can do that.
34:33 But it's just so hard to tell.
34:35 Leon's just outlined how unpredictable and logic-defying
34:41 Middlesbrough are at the moment, for example.
34:44 There's far too many teams like that for anybody to be making
34:49 any solid predictions when it's so tight.
34:53 A couple of weeks ago, probably more recently than that,
34:56 it looked like Millwall might have fought their way out a bit.
35:01 Now they're only four points away from Huddersfield.
35:04 If Rogers still win that game, they're right back in it as well.
35:10 The pessimist in me is starting to worry that it's going to be
35:16 a Yorkshire hat-trick in that relegation zone.
35:20 As I say, there's been a few missed opportunities for Wednesday
35:24 and Huddersfield to get out of it.
35:26 But as I said earlier, there's only one point in it.
35:28 It really doesn't take much to turn it around.
35:31 Hopefully they can find something.
35:33 There's a few little sub-plots, isn't there?
35:37 Obviously, Plymouth go to Rotherham.
35:40 Rotherham are probably satisfied with the relegation.
35:43 They've got to play Birmingham as well before the end of the season.
35:46 Huddersfield have got to play Birmingham.
35:49 If Hull do manage to get back on track in their last games at Plymouth,
35:55 in the respect of Huddersfield, they desperately need to win.
35:59 The big bonus of that is they win and they drag Millwall back into it.
36:02 If they can manage to do that, Millwall will think,
36:07 "We've lost at Rotherham and we've lost at Huddersfield."
36:12 There is a bit to go in that regard.
36:15 I tweeted something on Tuesday morning.
36:19 Huddersfield supporters in Sheffield Wednesday must understand
36:23 they're feeling a bit low as they went back to work.
36:27 This and that, the stick they're going to get.
36:30 The fact that Neil Warnock hasn't ended up at Plymouth
36:34 is one positive they can look at.
36:38 I think Warnock would have chiselled out enough there to get a couple of wins.
36:43 Stuart's right to mention they're away for a while,
36:46 but look at Plymouth's home form as well recently.
36:49 That was their big strength for the opening half of the season.
36:56 That's gone off the cliff and I think it seems to be the big reason
36:59 why they've got rid of Foster.
37:01 I think they've lost the last five and they haven't scored a goal.
37:05 That's always been a bit of a comfort blanket for them.
37:09 They've sort of lost and I think they've only won a couple away,
37:12 haven't they? Middlesbrough and perhaps somewhere else.
37:15 As much as we're talking about how difficult it is
37:19 at Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday,
37:23 there's some real worries down there in Devon by the sound of it.
37:31 It's a huge thing.
37:34 Campershire football down there, Plymouth have been fighting for that
37:37 for so long, haven't they? Ten plus years they've been close.
37:40 They've got to the play-offs or they've just missed out on the plefs.
37:44 It's a huge thing for them keeping the status at this level.
37:49 That's why it surprises me so much that they haven't just gone to Warnock,
37:53 'Here you go, six games. Work your magic, get everyone behind us.'
37:59 A good thing in that respect for Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield.
38:06 Knowing Warnock, as Stuart and I do, he'd have liked nothing better
38:12 to probably save Plymouth, certainly relegate Sheffield Wednesday.
38:18 Given what happened at Huddersfield, I think there'll be a little bit
38:23 of Sheldon Freud in him as well there. Thankfully, he's not there.
38:28 Things will twist and turn potentially, but I think for the sake of Huddersfield
38:37 and Sheffield Wednesday, they could really do with a victory on Saturday.
38:43 Huddersfield are day six without a win and Brighton Riders have not won at home.
38:48 He's not won in four at home. He needs it as much as anything.
38:53 He needs the fans to buy into that and say, 'Look, I've got a home win.'
38:59 As well as I mentioned with Millwall, Huddersfield, if they both can win,
39:05 they drag those two teams back in and then there's a few more.
39:08 If you get to the last day and there's three or four teams in it,
39:12 God knows what will happen.
39:15 The other thing about this time of year is your perception of a result changes
39:19 from week to week. I was being doom and gloom earlier about Huddersfield
39:23 only drawing to Stoke. When you look at it from a Stoke perspective,
39:26 they're five points clear. If they'd have won that game, as they ought to have done,
39:30 they're in the clear. Now all of a sudden, I think they've scored 15 goals
39:34 in 20 home games. That's not great when you have these crazy games sometimes.
39:39 They've got to go to Hillsborough in a couple of weeks.
39:41 They're another team who you thought were just getting out of it,
39:44 but actually aren't out of it yet. It's going to change on a week to week basis.
39:49 Probably our emotions with it as to whether we think it's doom and gloom
39:54 or happy days for those teams.
39:57 Blackman as well. They got a brilliant win for their sake as a tunneler.
40:03 If they've got to sit there and go, 'Oof, that's it.'
40:06 Look at their games. They've got the Leeds, the Southamptons, Ipswich,
40:10 Coventry. For our two Yorkshire teams, unfortunately we've got to forget about Rotherham.
40:17 They've gone. You just hope there's a few twists and you can get a few,
40:23 keep it as it was before Easter where there's five or six teams in it.
40:27 That's what they really need to do. This three-game week is going to be big in that regard.
40:36 Donca Sarovar is where our attention turns to next, who played out a 1-0 victory
40:41 when they welcomed Wrexham to the Eco Power Stadium.
40:44 This sees Grant McCann's side continue their fine form and stretch their winning run
40:48 to five in a row. With his side just seven points off the play-off spots,
40:53 how proud can Grant McCann be of his team's performances, Stuart?
40:58 Massively proud. They only beat Wrexham 1-0 the other day,
41:05 but they were absolutely terrific. There's not many teams that pick up six points over Easter.
41:12 They went to Crawley, who are another really good team in late-two terms,
41:17 and won there as well. It was a really good weekend for them.
41:20 I was at that Wrexham match, they played some really good stuff in it.
41:25 There were good performances all throughout the team.
41:29 They should have won by more than 1-0, but that said, Timothy Latuolo pulled off
41:35 an absolutely brilliant save in the seventh added minute to stop them dropping points.
41:41 We've been going on year after year about Donca Sarovar's season really nose-diving.
41:50 It's really encouraging to see him going the other way.
41:53 Seven points to make up with six games to play in terms of the play-offs, it feels a bit too much.
41:59 It feels as though that head start they've given everyone is going to cost them.
42:03 But there's something building there and it's not just results.
42:07 We've seen four new contracts in the last week.
42:10 There were over 8,000 Donca fans at the game, 2,000 Wrexham fans.
42:19 There's positivity building, there's something to build on.
42:23 We've talked this season, Grant McCann has set them the challenge of the league starts now
42:31 when the transfer window shuts, let's see how you can do the top of that league.
42:36 That's some going when you think about how clubs like Mansfield, Stockport and Wrexham have been doing.
42:41 And they've got games in hand in that league as well.
42:44 They're doing really well.
42:49 I remember being there just before Christmas and frankly it was miserable when they beat Bradford.
42:54 I remember saying on this podcast it just felt like everything was going wrong
42:59 and they just couldn't break out of this cycle.
43:01 Now it feels really positive and it's just about keeping that going and enjoying it.
43:05 Where it takes them, who knows?
43:07 But I'm certain it will serve them well next season, whatever division they're in.
43:12 Yeah, I think it's great to see what's happening and much needed as well.
43:16 The previous three final thirds of the last three seasons have just been awful.
43:21 I remember I did a game, it was about this time last year, I played at home to Northampton.
43:26 It was just a club going nowhere, there was so much apathy.
43:31 It was the final throws of the Danny Schofield regime.
43:36 I did feel sorry for what happened to Danny eventually,
43:39 but a club who totally lost the mojo.
43:42 There were some supporters probably being told to think,
43:45 "If this carries on next season, we could be a lengthy, sustained relegation fight."
43:53 It's been a bit of a crazy year in League 2, hasn't it?
43:56 Even a few months ago, we've dog casted, they were looking over the shoulders.
44:01 Then you're sighting big moments in the season.
44:06 They got hammered by Stockpile, then Sutton, then the score was in the third minute of stoppage time
44:13 or something with a penalty.
44:15 It just seems to have proved the catalyst for them to kick on.
44:20 It's great to see, given the recent history of seasons alarmingly falling away.
44:27 We spoke about Middlesbrough having a bit of fun, and it's the same as Doncaster.
44:33 Stuart's right about that league table.
44:35 You look at all the form guides, the 10-match form guide, the 12-match one,
44:39 they're at the top, aren't they?
44:41 They're beating some big clubs there, the Mansfields and Wrexham.
44:45 It's a very, very slim chance that they've got of the top seven,
44:52 but that last spot's going to be open for somebody, isn't it, potentially?
44:55 For all year on, what is it, 62 points.
44:58 I think the good thing, probably in that regard for Doncaster,
45:02 is they've had a little look beforehand at some of the games.
45:05 They've got a few teams around them, which I think is good.
45:10 If you're going to talk about players, they've got Dillingham away,
45:13 they've got Walsall, they've got Morecambe, who are up there as well.
45:18 If you look at it, they've got 55 points.
45:21 They're probably going to need, I don't know, you'd probably say 70, wouldn't you?
45:25 I don't think it's going to be massively high to get that last spot.
45:29 So maybe 15 points. They're probably going to have to win five out of six,
45:32 maybe at least. But if they can win it, what, the next game, is it Morecambe away?
45:38 If they can go there and win that, it's there up there as well, Morecambe.
45:42 So they've got three points themselves and they've stopped one of the teams
45:48 who were sniffing around there getting a win as well.
45:51 You never know, but there will be this.
45:55 It does speak about it a lot, Graham McCann, game by game, but it really does
45:59 apply in the case that Doncaster are in at the minute.
46:03 But let's just be pleased that they're having some fun.
46:06 It's essential that they've got kids around them, really.
46:10 It's not just the points. They've got six teams to clamber over,
46:14 so they need to be stopping those teams.
46:16 But as Liam says, they've got a slim chance.
46:19 We'd rather have a slim chance than no chance.
46:21 It's a lot more fun than being a place above the relegation zone.
46:24 They're getting in the form, aren't they?
46:26 It's not impossible, given that the fourth team is on,
46:29 but they just can't afford to drop to these wins at the minute.
46:35 I suppose they've got five in a row now, isn't it?
46:37 It is, yes.
46:39 Again, it's just no time for complacency at all at this stage.
46:44 No, they've just got to enjoy the ride, haven't they?
46:46 That's what they've got to do.
46:48 Exactly.
46:50 Finally for this week, I turn to Leon for his Player of the Week
46:54 before looking to Stuart for his Team of the Week.
46:56 So, Leon, who has grabbed your attention this week?
46:59 I've jotted a few names down.
47:04 Bobby Pointing, obviously all the Bradford fans were clambering for him.
47:08 He's a local lad where the team's in a bit of bother.
47:13 I think it's often quite a canny thing for a manager to bring in
47:17 one of the local lads.
47:20 He's a teenage Bradford City fan.
47:23 He scored a great goal, didn't he, against Tramere on Good Friday.
47:28 So, a decent Easter for City, much needed given the problems they've had there in recent times.
47:37 So, he's put his hand up.
47:40 One or two others as well.
47:42 We've got St Middlesbrough in a nice vein of form.
47:45 Talking about Johnny Howson and his Berezia impression.
47:49 He just shows what a great footballer and character he is.
47:57 We'll all miss him when he does retire.
47:59 Hopefully not for a few years yet.
48:02 He's shown his adaptability in playing at centre-half at Southampton on Friday.
48:08 That's a real... They're one of the best attacking sides in the division.
48:13 Only one fit centre-half and Johnny's slotted in there.
48:17 Isaiah Jones as well. He's got a bit of his mojo back.
48:21 Dan Barlasa.
48:23 You've got to mention a few Rotherham players.
48:26 The run they've been on has been absolutely desperate.
48:30 The good professionals there must have been really, really hurting.
48:34 It was so pleasing for everyone connected there.
48:37 They managed to end this desperate streak.
48:40 All the embarrassment on social media.
48:43 Having a pop, young Ravan who got the winner as well.
48:49 Was he a lone player? He's probably his first lone.
48:52 It must have been really tough for the lad.
48:55 A big positive moment and something for him to remember as his career goes forward.
49:05 I think the one name that I will say somebody else will know a bit about is Richard Wood.
49:14 We mentioned Doncaster and it was a big miss for a fair chunk of the season.
49:20 His return has coincided with a bit of an upturn at Doncaster with his organisation, leadership and spirit.
49:28 It's great to see Woody back at the day job doing what he does well.
49:34 He's been rewarded with another contract.
49:37 What is he now? 37 or 38?
49:39 He's got a good chance of reaching the Great James Coppinger playing when he's 40.
49:47 I think all things considered, what's going on at Doncaster, I probably will pick Richard Wood.
49:53 Classic Richard Wood on the Tuesday, hitting everything away from the box.
49:59 Defending brilliantly against the likes of Paul Muller.
50:01 He had a great volley on the turn and then leaving the game in the 96th minute,
50:05 refusing a stretcher with a massive gash across his head.
50:08 The biggest gash that Abraham McCann has ever seen.
50:10 Classic Richard Wood from start to finish.
50:14 Just such a top professional and good to see him going.
50:17 As Leon says, he'll probably be going as long as Borussia at this rate.
50:20 Not quite at the same level but still pretty good.
50:24 In terms of the team, apologies to Doncaster fans, I'm not going to pick your team.
50:32 Despite how brilliant they've been, as I've just said,
50:36 as Leon has already alluded to, everything we said about Sheffield United's spirit,
50:41 you can times that by two really for Rotherham beating Millwall on the day they were supposed to go down.
50:47 They could even have gone down winning.
50:49 I think we're all expecting that but I'm going to go for Harrogate Town.
50:54 It sounded like they let one get away at Wimbledon on Good Friday,
50:58 failing to beat them after Wimbledon were down to 10 men for a good chunk.
51:04 But to beat Jullingham 5-1 on Easter Monday, not just good for them,
51:08 but for Doncaster as well is what we've been saying about trying to reel them in.
51:12 But that's taken them to 58 points, which is the most they've ever had in the Football League.
51:19 Just a really positive story of steady progress, realism,
51:27 and just using the most of what you've got at Harrogate Town.
51:31 We've praised them a few times on the podcast, particularly in the last few months,
51:36 but I think it's another week to do that.
51:38 yorkshirepost.co.uk
51:41 yp.sport@nationalworld.com
51:52 Many thanks to Stuart Rayner and Leon Wobtrell, who will doubtless join us again soon
51:56 for more discussions on the Yorkshire football scene.
51:58 But don't forget you can keep up to date with all the football news across Yorkshire and beyond
52:01 by logging on to our website at yp.sport@nationalworld.com
52:05 or if you search for Yorkshire Post Sport, Yorkshire Post Football or even Sheffield Sport on Facebook,
52:10 you can find us there as well.
52:12 If you have any questions for our writers, you can get in touch using those various Twitter or Facebook pages,
52:16 or email us directly with a subject matter as football talk podcast at yp.sport@nationalworld.com
52:23 As ever, many thanks for listening, look after yourselves, and bye for now.
52:27 [music]