Reds captain Luke Steele admits he thought David Flitcroft had made a mistake by switching to the wing-backs formation last month but says now that he never wants to go back to 4-4-2.
Flitcroft has used the 3-5-2 system in all of his seven games as Barnsley manager which have yielded five wins and renewed hope that the Reds can avoid relegation.
“I was against it,” said goalkeeper Steele who has played 176 games for Barnsley.
“I have never been in a team where the back three has worked so I have always been wary of playing 3-5-2. But now I never want to play 4-4-2 again. I didn’t think we would get enough protection at the back but we’re getting more protection than in a 4-4-2. I was just wrong.
“I’ve not read the coaching manual properly and I’m not a coach. This is the first time that I feel totally comfortable in a 3-5-2.
“Hopefully teams won’t start working us out but I don’t think they will because of our energy and the way we get the ball forward so quickly. Any team is going to have problems against us, even if they have got the best plan in the world.”
