Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom praised his side for not falling into Bristol City's traps having switched his formation at half-time as the contest at Bramall Lane was increasingly playing into the visitor's hands.
City controlled most of the play in the opening 45 minutes, albeit struggling to create clear-cut opportunities with Harry Cornick registering the only shot on target. However, Sam Bell was arguably pulled back when through on goal just moments before he failed to connect with a header inside the area.
He also had a strike blocked inside the box but despite the lack of goalmouth action, City proved they could mix it with a side who are on the brink of earning automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Having started with three at the back and a flat midfield five, Heckingbottom introduced Manchester City loanee and matchwinner James McAtee at half-time, taking off midfielder John Fleck which then allowed the hosts to move into a 3-4-3 formation with the substitute moving out to the right-hand side.
"Second half we were much better, the first half - their shape the 4-2-3-1 just meant the game was man for man," the Sheffield United manager said. "It was scrappy, bitty, and obviously that's what they wanted.
"It suited them much more than it did us. We didn't have anyone getting their foot on the ball, making sure we tried to play more often than not or receiving the ball under pressure. It's a man-for-man game, that's what you've got to do.
"It was scrappy, bitty and it allowed them to take their time more on throw-ins and set-plays, goal kicks, it was a game they wanted and not us so we had to change shape and also our approach to it and be braver.
"We were a much more attacking force in the second half but we hardly gave anything away up the other end. It was pleasing and that was the message to the players - not every game is going to go your way in the 90 minutes, ever.
"We kept our cool in terms of not falling into any traps, could make the changes, affect the game, and then we got better and better then.
"You could see Bristol's plan to play less than they usually do and try to break quicker so turn us when we pressed and also break really quickly after we attacked. They were the moments they had in the first half but we dealt with it and I think we dealt with it even better in the second half."
There were growing signs of tension around Bramall Lane, especially in the first half with City in the ascendency.
However, Heckingbottom admitted that anxiety was heightened by the magnitude of the game after victory lifted them eight points clear of Luton Town in third while admitting goalkeeper Adam Davies enjoyed a relatively comfortable afternoon. The Robins mustered just four shots all evening, with only one on target.
"To a man, everyone upped their level in the second half," he added. "The change of shape allowed us to not be man-marked which was a plus for us but that's irrelevant unless you're willing to be brave with the ball and affect the game positively. I thought everyone did that.
"I think Bristol would have been happy at half-time with the way the game was going. We had to force the initiative.
"Bristol had that effort which went straight down Davies' throat but apart from that it was fine. When we are at the stage of the season, when it's nervous and tense the game can feel totally different to what is actually happening.
"When they were breaking, particularly in the first half, there's a nervousness and anxiety which could fizzle out to nothing."
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