The Blades, recently relegated from the Premier League, were floundering at the wrong end of the Championship table following Slavisa Jokanovic’s appointment in the summer.
Despite some signs of progress, including victory in the Serb’s final game in charge down at Reading, United made the decision to change manager in November and went back to Heckingbottom, who had taken temporary control of the Blades last season after Chris Wilder’s departure.
The Blades missed the chance to go level with Wilder’s Boro, who are sixth, in the week as they drew 0-0 with Hull City at Bramall Lane, but will be hoping to put some more pressure on those clubs above them this weekend when they host Swansea City in South Yorkshire.
But how would the table look if only results under Heckingbottom’s stewardship counted? We took a look at the state of the imaginary Championship table to find out more …