Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown on possible formation change

The U’s have typically employed a 4-3-3 system under Des Buckingham, particularly since the 5-0 hammering at Bolton Wanderers in March.

The formation sees the full backs play a more reserved role, with the width provided by the wingers, who tend to remain high and wide, either side of the central striker.

In midfield, one holder is used in the centre of the park, with two attack-minded players pushed up the pitch.

The wingers are key to the set-up though, however injuries to four wide players in Siriki Dembele, Kyle Edwards, Matt Phillips and Przemyslaw Placheta, have limited Buckingham’s options on the flanks.

READ AGAIN: U’s boss discusses the possibility of changing formation

Talk of a change in shape had been mooted prior to United’s trip to Sky Bet Championship leaders Sunderland at the weekend, and although the U’s started with a 4-3-3, a switch at half-time saw that become a 3-5-2 set-up.

Greg Leigh replaced Idris El Mizouni, with Peter Kioso and Leigh providing the width from wing back, while Northern Ireland international Brown moved inside from left back to the left-sided centre half.

Brown said: “The way the game was going, and the personnel we had out there, it suited us better at the time, and probably for the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half, it felt a lot better.

“I think it was a bit of a sucker punch to concede the way that we did, which took the wind out of our sails.

“We were fighting uphill then, and it made it a bit more difficult, but we’ll do whatever we need to do and whatever formation we need to pick up as many points as we can.”

The 26-year-old added: “The squad that we started with at the beginning of the season is no way near the size of what it is now.

“We’re missing a lot of top players, a lot of key players, and it does maybe make it a bit more difficult for the manager to play the system he wants.

“It maybe makes it a bit difficult for us because that’s the system we know, but whatever injuries we have, we’ve got to give it everything we’ve got.

“From a personal point of view, I think it would suit me a lot more than maybe playing left back.

“Whatever the manager wants to play or whatever he thinks will suit us, we’ll do that.

“There are going to be injuries throughout the season. We’ve been hit thick and fast within the last month or two, and the system’s got to change because we don’t have the personnel to play the system we want to play.”