Lee Johnson says Sunderland's return to a back four has made players such as Lynden Gooch more effective going forward.
The Black Cats have played with three central defenders in a back five in recent games, but - despite keeping the same personnel - switched to a four for the midweek 5-0 win against Morecambe.
And they again started with a four this weekend, and raced into a 2-0 lead against Plymouth inside 15 minutes on their way to a 2-1 victory.
READ MORE: Lynden Gooch injury a worry for Sunderland in wake of victory against Plymouth
With all Sunderland's specialist full-backs injured, Gooch has played at left-back in the back four and from that position he produced two assists against Morecambe, and also set up chances against Plymouth.
The only downside was that Gooch had to go off at half-time against Plymouth after picking up a groin problem, and that meant another reshuffle and a switch to a back five.
"In the last two games, we have started with four at the back but it has had to be a lop-sided four," said Johnson.
"What I've had to do is find ways to get certain players on the front foot.
"Goochy has got the licence to go as high as he likes, but it's important that everybody shuffles around really quickly.
"Sometimes it will look like a five but actually it's a 4-2-3-1, then in this game we had to move to a five.
"We actually conceded in a five, but I don't think that [the shape] had any relevance.
"Sometimes you need to match up, match your opponent athletically, and have the clarity to go toe-to-toe and one-vs-one."
After being pressed back in the first half, Plymouth came increasingly into the game in the second half but to what extent that was due to Sunderland's enforced shape change or Pilgrims boss Steven Schumacher reading his side the riot act at half-time is open to question.
Johnson said: "I went to a five [in the second half] because I thought it was the simplest way for the players to have clarity [after Gooch went off].
"It made us strong in the middle of the pitch with Bailey [Wright], Flanno [Tom Flanagan] and [Callum] Doyle as centre-backs
"Doyle was dragged out a bit once Goochy went off, and Leon [Dajaku] was playing out of position at wingback, [Elliot] Embleton out of position, [Carl] Winchester out of position - that's credit to them, and to the work that we do, because they are tactically adaptable and fighting for the cause even when they are in uncomfortable positions."
In the second half, referee Scott Oldham lost control of the game at times, ignoring what appeared to be clear-cut free-kicks, which incensed the Sunderland fans and Johnson himself.
Johnson was booked by the official at one point and, having already served a one-match touchline ban for accumulating four yellow cards this season, he intended to speak to Oldham after the match and ask him to reconsider.
He said: "I actually got booked for applauding a great tackle from Tom Flanagan!
"I'm going to go and see him in a minute and say that I need that one rescinding because I don't trust myself not to get another three or four [bookings].
"But I'm not going to talk about the referee, I'd rather praise the players for the way they dealt with it.
"There were three or four occasions when we should have had a free-kick but the referee played advantage and that led to frustration.
"I thought the boys coped really well because they didn't lose their heads."
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