It’s fair to say that Leeds United have had yet another turbulent season. So far, controversial owner Massimo Cellino has been banned from stepping foot in Elland Road until his court case has been resolved, as many as three permanent Head Coach’s have had a go at steering the ever-troubled club back to the promised land of the Barclays Premier League, and the mixture of foreign players and Youth Academy graduates have unsurprisingly taken time to bed in. All this had left the club constantly fearing the dreaded drop into the third division of English Football for the second time in it’s history.

That was until the turn of the year. For the most part of the season, United had been using the diamond formation, and for a time it worked, with the likes of wonder kids Lewis Cook and Adryan Leeds looked exciting at times. Fan Favourite Rudy Austin in the engine room and the teaming of Mirco Antenucci and Soulemanye Doukara – it would seem United had the firepower to hurt most Championship teams on their day, particularly at Elland Road where high-flyers Derby and Middlesbrough have both fallen. However, inconsistency has been a big problem for “The Whites”, with such a huge squad most players seemed to be constantly in and out of the starting line up and some players never used at all.

New Year’s Day came around and United found themselves in 20th position, just one point above the relegation places and playing poorly. Head Coach Neil Redfern had to change something – and that is what he did. The next game – a FA Cup Third round trip to Sunderland – saw many changes in personnel and since then United have only tasted defeat in the league on one occasion.

A change of formation from the diamond to a more threatening 4-5-1 meant United had more options on the wings and advancing players forward such as Sam Byram allowed them to flourish – a move which has paid off. Byram now has two goals in the last four games.

The new formation has been especially beneficial to players like Luke Murphy. Murphy had seemed to have been frozen out of the Leeds side after being sent off in the League Cup defeat to Bradford in August, and also falling out of favour with the fans. He was restored to the starting line up in the New Year shake-up and looks like a different player. He has scored in three of the last six games and has started to command the centre of the pitch with tough tackles. As a result of his form he was nominated for the January player of the Month Award, losing out to Lee Tomlin of Middlesbrough.

Scott Wootton is another player that Redfern has brought back into the fold since the change, preferring the ex Man United man to Swiss International Gaetano Berardi at right back – having pushed Byram to the right wing. Wootton scored on his debut, but was rarely used last season and did not do much for Leeds all season, subsequently being loaned out to Rotherham in November. Chairman Cellino blocked Wootton’s proposed permanent transfer to “The Millers” and since his return he has started every game.

Another player being brought in from the cold is Steve Morison. Morison signed in January 2013 in the deal that saw Luciano Becchio depart Elland Road. He was given the number nine shirt and made a promising start at Leeds- scoring on his home debut-but he only netted two more goals that season and spent the whole of last season on loan at boyhood club Millwall. Now he is leading the line back at Leeds and although yet to bag a goal has put in some really impressive performances in United’s recent run of good form.

It is good to see these players been given another chance to prove their worth at Leeds. It certainly seems that Redfern and the team can finally start to look up rather than down the Championship table after a string of positive results long may our good form continue.