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When Jack O’Connell limped off with just under 15 minutes to go against Bristol City two Saturdays ago, many Sheffield United fans would have been fearing the worst.

That was especially the case after the Blades conceded two late Andreas Weimann goals and saw their automatic promotion hopes dented.

The injury he sustained then kept him out of the game with Preston last weekend. However, the Yorkshire club managed to win and in doing so proved a massive point that Chris Wilder’s men can adapt, and that they can manage without one of their key performers.

How did they do it?

There’s no shying away from the fact that O’Connell has been pivotal to Sheffield United’s success this season. He’s played in 36 Championship fixtures and been a rock at the back, but the fact they won and kept a clean sheet without him demonstrates they are perfectly well equipped when he’s not around.

Wilder will probably be kicking himself over a tactical blunder he made by bringing on Marvin Johnson for the centre back over a week ago but the manager proved any doubters wrong by aborting the small crisis from a week before.

John Egan and Chris Basham were both imperative to the win at the weekend, but the man who stepped into O’Connell’s shoes in the left centre back role deserves a lot of credit.

Enda Stevens was the man entrusted and the decision to play him there worked a treat. He may not have looked as imperious as his defensive colleagues but in making three interceptions and four clearances demonstrated how good he can be at the back.

Kieran Dowell played at left wing-back and although he didn’t enjoy a productive day, it wasn’t that position that would have worried supporters going into the weekend.

Wilder will have learnt plenty about his side in the last couple of weeks but what will please him most, is that his side can still challenge even without one of their players of the season.

With promotion very much on the line, it certainly bodes well for the Blades.