Chris Basham says key Paul Heckingbottom tweak is one reason behind recent Sheffield United success

Sheffield United centre-back Chris Basham believes his side’s return to a back-three system has played an integral part in their good run of form under boss Paul Heckingbottom, making this admission to Yorkshire Live.

Under the stewardship of Slavisa Jokanovic, the Blades often tried to play a 4-2-3-1 system after years of playing in Chris Wilder’s 3-5-2 formation with Heckingbottom sticking with three centre-back when he was caretaker in the latter stages of last term.

These issues in adapting to a new formation failed to cease until Jokanovic gave in and started operating with a back three once again in late-November following an international break, drawing 0-0 at home against Coventry City before picking up a then-rare win at Reading the following week.

Unfortunately for the Serbian, it was too little too late and he was replaced by Heckingbottom following that game at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, a decision that did raise some eyebrows with Jokanovic winning Championship promotion with both Watford and Fulham in the past.

Since this managerial change though, United have experienced an upturn in fortunes and are now pushing for a place in the play-off zone, something that looked impossible earlier in the season.

Central defender Basham, who has been a key figure in their rise, went on to outline a system alteration as one of the main reasons for their recent joy in the second tier after going unbeaten in all but one of Heckingbottom’s league games at the helm thus far.

The 33-year-old said: “There’s a lot more steel about us, not just the back three or the back five, it’s togetherness in the full group. We know how to play the back five formation very well and I think that’s what has helped a lot.

“With what Paul