The Tigers claimed the clean sheet they craved to inflict more damage on the Blades
Hull City’s long wait for a clean sheet and even longer wait for a home victory over Sheffield United was finally ended on Saturday when they beat the Blades 1-0 at the MKM Stadium, to leave the South Yorkshire side rooted to the foot of the table.
A tight, scrappy first half was settled on David Akintola’s deflected volley on the half-hour, when his rising effort cannoned off the arm of Chiedozie Ogbene and into the far corner.
City had to withstand major pressure in the second half and needed Ivor Pandur to deny Harrison Burrows from the penalty spot in the closing stages, but this was a huge home success for the Tigers against the Blades with a gritty, well-organised display.
Jakirovic made four changes from the start of Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Preston; in came Regan Slater, Darko Gyabi, David Akintola and Joe Gelhardt, while there was a return to the squad for Matt Crooks, but Kyle Joseph was absent through illness.
City were hit by a major blow inside 15 minutes when ex-Blade John Lundstram was hurt, and had to be replaced by Amir Hadziahmetovic, who had been dropped going into the contest.
Neat play between Gelhardt and McBurnie released Slater, who saw a shot deflect over for the game’s first corner. It was the first attempt from open play 20 minutes into what had been a quiet start to the all-Yorkshire affair, played out in difficult conditions thanks to the rather angry Storm Amy.
The visitors enjoyed a good spell and came close to hitting the front when Hamer was afforded too much space inside the box and crunched an effort back off Ivor Pandur’s post.
City took the lead just before the half-hour when Coyle’s enticing cross found its way to the back post, where Akintola was there to fire across goal and into the far corner, via a massive deflection off the arm of Ogbene and fizzed in.
Aside from Hamer’s effort off the post amid a good five-minute spell, Jakirovic’s men were organised and disciplined in their work and keen to try and slow United’s momentum where possible, and it worked.
Right at the start of the second half, with City on the counter, O’Hare dragged back Gelhardt as he looked to free Gyabi and he became the first booking in the derby.
McBurnie’s first sight of goal came early in the second period when he picked up on a loose ball, but under pressure and after various twists and turns, his effort was saved by Cooper before Hamer was denied by Pandur from the edge of the box. Just past the hour, Matt Crooks made his return, coming on with Liam Millar for Gyabi and Akintola.
City almost carved out a repeat of the second goal against Preston North End when Millar fed Giles but his ball into the near post for McBurnie was cut out, and that was his final involvement. Replaced by Semi Ajayi with 10 nine minutes left, while Destan replaced Gelhardt.
Crooks cleared off the line before Ajayi was penalised for a clumsy foul inside the box by referee Gavin Ward, but Pandur, villain in midweek, was the hero when he saved Burrow’s tame penalty kick three minutes from time and that was that. A third home win of the season for City and they move onto 12 points, closing in on the top six after nine games. And they finally got that clean sheet.
Hull City: (4-2-3-1) Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle (c), Slater, Lundstram (Hadziahmetovic 14), Gyabi (Millar 61), Akintola (Crooks 61), Gelhardt, McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Crooks, Millar, Ajayi, Drameh, Famewo, Destan, Hadziahmetovic.
Sheffield United: (3-4-2-1) Cooper, Tanganga, McCallum (Burrows 72), Hamer, O’Hare (Ings 63), Mee, Ogbene, Campbell (Cannon 72), McGuinness, Matos (Barry 81), Peck (Davies 63). Subs: A Davies, Bindon, Cannon, Ings, Burrows, Soumare, T Davies, Barry, Seriki.
Man of the Match: Charlie Hughes
Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 21,030 (2,306 from Bramall Lane)
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