HULL City boss Steve Bruce admits he must recapture the perfect balance between defence and attack if the Tigers are to fulfil their potential during the Championship run-in.
City's promotion assault was dealt a heavy blow in midweek when an attack-minded system was undone by leading rivals Watford, who claimed a 1-0 victory at the KC Stadium.
An experimental line-up found space for Jay Simpson, Gedo, George Boyd and Robert Koren, but fell some way short of the standards set during a memorable campaign.
With the fit-again Stephen Quinn set for a recall, at least one of the midweek attacking quartet will make way for the visit of Middlesbrough this afternoon.
Injury to Jack Hobbs will also mean a start for Corry Evans, with Alex Bruce dropping back into defence.
A more conventional line-up will be favourite to find a reaction against Tony Mowbray's side and Bruce accepts balance must be restored.
"You can always look with hindsight at your decisions and if you could have done things differently," he said.
"I played Alex in the centre of midfield because when he's played there we've kept clean-sheets. If we'd have done that again it would have been at least four points in it.
"I was also aware of how offensive we were. Being offensive, maybe too offensive, we didn't really get after Watford until the second half when we changed a few things.
"Saying that, I've seen it again and it could have gone either way. The one real bit of quality, just like at Huddersfield for us, was the great goal from Troy Deeney."
If that represents an admission of fault, Bruce will immediately be forgiven by an appreciative following.
A debut season has seen all expectations exceeded with City starting a "six-game season" still in second and the popular boss is hungry to make the most of an unforeseen shot at glory.
"When you get to my age I've probably learned to appreciate these times," he added.
"Even more so because I don't think many people expected this. People started to take notice of how we played and we got a lot of compliments.
"I've enjoyed managing again. Not just because the results have gone for us but because of the way people have treated me and the respect I've been shown. As the manager of the club, that's been fantastic.
"Let's hope we can keep enjoying it. That will only come with success in the next four weeks, that would be the ultimate thing."
Next up is a Middlesbrough side once considered a formidable promotion contender.
On the same December day City were beating Leeds United 2-0 at the KC Stadium, Middlesbrough were making light work of Blackpool in a 4-2 win to remain firmly in the Tigers' slipstream. One point was all that split City in second from Middlesbrough in third as 2012 drew to a close but now the gap has become a gulf.
A 16-point shortfall has since pulled Middlesbrough's season in the opposite direction of City's promotion charge and, for the second season in succession, huge promise up to the turn of the year has come to nothing on Teesside.
Bruce is perplexed by Middlesbrough's demise – especially after being picked apart during a 2-0 defeat at the Riverside in late October.
"On paper, given their form, it looks a good game for us but I've got a lot of respect for Middlesbrough," said Bruce.
"They've got good players and a good manager but, for whatever reason, they've found themselves on a run that can happen to any side in this league.
"Let's hope that run continues for at least another week but I thought they'd be one of the teams up there challenging. I thought they'd be a side to beat."
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• Team news for Hull City v Middlesbrough
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• Stephen Quinn: Relax and relish promotion run-in
