MANAGER: Players who are adaptable

United’s 4-3-3 system at the weekend saw them dominate the first 45 minutes, with the only goal of the game coming in a period where the away team had been knocking at the door.

Speaking about a shape the team were clearly comfortable with, manager Paul Simpson said: “The lads have shown when we’ve changed it in game we’re comfortable with it.

“We have players who are adaptable, it’s a case of picking the right system, then the right players to go out there. I will say it again, players win games of football, not systems.

“It doesn’t matter if Jack Armer’s playing as a left back or left wing back, if he doesn’t make that block on the edge of the box and have the desire to do that, it’s a goalscoring chance.

“These players are prepared to put a shift in, which is the base for us, that gives us the base. Seeing how well we adapt obviously gives you food for thought.

“We know we need wins and it’s about doing whatever it takes to get them. I think the system has been really good all season and it’s actually made us a very attacking side, because we got up to 60 goals playing with the way we were.

“There’s nothing to say we can’t change back, we’ve certainly got the personnel to change it again. I felt Saturday was about continuing the momentum from Tuesday’s second half and trying to take the game to Barrow.

“I knew they would have time, and moments, and it was about earning it. That’s where the bench came into it. We needed strength on there.

“There were some tired legs after what had been a tough week. I thought every single player put a shift in and we need to keep seeing that if we’re going to have the end to the season we want.

“Everybody seem to have come through the game fine, apart from tired legs, but I want them to be shattered at the end of the game. The fans saw that as well, and that’s why they all stayed to celebrate after the final whistle. We need more of that.”

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