Worcester City defender Colin Hoyle has backed the team's 5-3-2 formation that helped achieve a rare clean sheet at Alfreton Town on Saturday.

The goalless draw proved City's first shut-out in Nationwide North since October 8 and brought to a close a sequence of seven defeats in all competitions.

City's player-manager Andy Preece believed the system using three central defenders with two wing-backs played a major part in keeping Alfreton at bay.

Preece acknowledged that the formation, occasionally used by former boss John Barton earlier this season, may be adopted again this Saturday when City play host to Vauxhall Motors at St George's Lane.

Former Burton Albion centre-back Hoyle admits he has no qualms with the system.

Hoyle, 33, said: "In the past few weeks, we've been getting caught a little bit through midfield runners. With the three at the back, it gives us a bit more protection.

"The weather did not help at Alfreton but they could not really play the ball through us. It seemed a lot tighter, it was more congested in the middle and they found it tough to break us down, especially with the lads in midfield working hard too. It worked well with Barry (Woolley) on the right, Carl (Heeley) to the left and myself sweeping up behind.

"I think when John used to play with that system, it did work and we got a couple of good results. Obviously, different managers have different styles and shapes they want to use and how they think the team can play better.

"It was forced on us a little bit again on Saturday with injuries, but it worked. I felt we played the better football and possibly de-served to win.

"I've played in a three at the back on quite a few occasions at a lot of clubs. At those clubs, we've needed at times more numbers in the middle."

n Worcester City's away fixture at Bromyard Town tonight in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Southern Division has been postponed due to the waterlogged state of the pitch.