With a game to chase and not much being created Tom Cleverley made changes in the second half of the game at Sheffield United to alter the team’s shape.

He went to a flat back four, switched to three in midfield and played the remainder of the game with two wingers.

“Their two midfielders were getting too much control so that change allowed us to push our two midfielders on by giving our midfield a third member,” the Watford boss explained.

“Then we also introduced real pace onto the pitch.

“Baah is an out and out winger, so that helped with the change of system, and we took a bit more risk to go with four defenders.

“We need to improve at defending with a four because we need to have this option.”

When the substitutes came on, there was some surprise that as well as the pace and power of Baah, the speed and trickery of Rocco Vata was not also sent on to give the home side a different problem to deal with.

“A thing I’ve learned in my very short coaching career is introducing too many young players all at the same time cannot always be the most positive thing to do,” Cleverley said.

“With Jebbison and Baah coming into that top line, who are both fairly inexperienced players, to introduce Vata would have been a big risk for me.

“That’s not to say I don’t massively respect Vata and his qualities, but bringing him on would have meant introducing all three at the same time when there are a lot of out-of-possession responsibilities that young players don’t fully understand at the moment.”

It was the first time this season that the defence had looked like it needed the guidance and organisation that a player like new signing Angela Ogbonna could bring.

The former West Ham defender wasn’t fit enough for Sunday, but the attributes he can bring were lacking at Bramall Lane.

“You can never have enough leaders but that is my responsibility,” Cleverley pointed out.

“I had Ryan Porteous at my disposal today and I could have used him for a bit more experience in the team.

“I didn’t, I changed system instead.

“You can always do with leaders coming to a place like this but I don’t think that’s the reason we lost the game.”