For all their young players and new additions, Sheffield United have become something of a blast from the past.

With a 4-4-2 that Mike Bassett would be proud of, the Blades have modified expertly to get back on track.

The key secret weapon to this new, old-timey success is Kieffer Moore. The Welsh striker, head and shoulders above the rest, in the literal sense.

Let’s look at how Kieffer Moore has turned around at the perfect time for the Blades.

Good but in need of Moore help

To understand how effective Moore is now in a front-two, we have to acknowledge his season before.

The Welsh forward has made 29 league appearances for the Blades this season. With a contribution of five goals. Not bad given an average of a goal in just less than every six games. Although nothing to write home about.

Much of the early criticism of Moore came due to his lack of mobility compared to strikers like Tyrese Campbell. With Campbell’s raw energy giving the Blades counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 it’s clinical edge.

Unfortunately, for Moore his maiden Blades season was also halted by injury. With the 32-year-old requiring surgery for a hernia. Despite this, Kieffer Moore played through the injury up until the surgery. A sacrifice that helped the team and provides context to some of his perceived mobility issues.

Whilst, he returned in March, the two games in April against Burnley and Stoke City unlocked the best Moore. His performance at the Bet365 showing how effective a 4-4-2 could be for the Blades.  With Moore earning a third best rating in the side according to FotMob.

With his next two performances against Bristol City hopefully proving to any doubters that sometimes players just need the right system. And have we found the one for Moore.

152 minutes of Moore promise

Kieffer Moore in the playoffs will be studied by footballing philosophers for some time to come. You can enjoy tiki-taka, gegenpressing and all the robotic brilliance of modern football as much as you want. But. You cannot beat a tall striker knocking the ball down.

At Ashton Gate, Kieffer Moore was unplayable from the Bristol City players’ perspectives. He was heading almost everything that came his way. He was the perfect outlet during the tight spells of the first leg. Plus, he may be in Rob Dickie’s nightmares for weeks to come.

Stats at Ashton Gate

Kieffer Moore won 69% of his aerial duels against Bristol City away winning nine aerial duels. As well as a decent three ground duels won. The combination of which saw him win the most duels of any player on the pitch.

His physical presence saw him fouled once, but what an important foul it was. The goal that came broke the deadlock, broke the first leg and broke the Robins’ resolve. He was constantly working their defenders completing five recoveries.

His effect on the first leg made even more impressive by being the outfield player with the least touches with just 33.

Back at the Lane