Paul Heckingbottom has given Sheffield United the promotion credentials lacking under Jokanovic

Yesterday's hard-fought draw at Huddersfield was another point on the board for Sheffield United under Paul Heckingbottom and another step in the right direction.

A point that moved them into eighth place and in a great position to enter the play-off race with three home games on the spin to come.

But it was a point that they might not have got had this fixture been prior to Heckingbottom's arrival.

Indeed, United have picked up seven points from their last three matches - a decent return.

Yet, it's hard to argue in favour of that being the case earlier in the season, when United looked vulnerable under sustained periods of pressure, the type of which Huddersfield subjected the visitors to yesterday.

However, one of the main differences under Heckingbottom's United is that they look more than primed for a promotion battle.

They are finding ways to win matches, grinding our results and, more importantly which was key to their success in 2018-19, now keeping clean sheets.

During that promotion-winning campaign, Dean Henderson kept 21 blanks, and yesterday's shut-out was Wes Foderingham's ninth of the campaign.

Under Heckingbottom, it was their sixth in 10 matches, while under Slavisa Jokanovic United kept just five in 19.

In fairness to Huddersfield yesterday, United were a touch fortunate to keep the hosts at bay, with a disallowed goal and three penalty shouts going in their favour.

But the difference is clear.

Having handed out a fair few gifts at the back under Jokanovic, United are no longer a soft touch in that respect.

They are much more resolute at the back, with the switch to a three rather than a four a big reason for that, but having been so fragile for the first part, one of Heckingbottom's big successes is