David Akintola's winning strike took a telling deflection before finding the back of the net
Harrison Burrows had a late penalty kick saved as Sheffield United's dreadful start to the season continued, with David Akintola's deflected strike earning Hull City victory and consigning the Blades to an seventh Championship loss in nine games.
The visitors edged a lively first half that had plenty of endeavour but was almost devoid of goalmouth action aside from Akintola's effort, which was going wide until it took a crucial deflection off Chiedozie Ogbene and nestled into the far corner.
Neither keeper made a save worth noting, although Gus Hamer was unlucky not to put the Blades ahead with a powerful drive that cannoned off the near post.
The visitors saw plenty of the ball after the break but rarely threatened until increasing late pressure.
Hamer again went close and the hosts survived an almighty goalmouth scramble before Burrows saw his weak spot-kick saved by keeper Ivor Pandur.
Pandur's heroics, after substitute Semi Ajayi's rash tackle on Danny Ings, presented United with a glorious chance and would have rewarded an improved display in the second half in which they dominated possession and created several decent opportunities in the closing stages.
The impressive Hamer was narrowly off target with a shot from the edge of the box, and Tyrese Campbell had a strong case for a penalty kick when his foot was trodden on by Lewie Coyle just inside the area.
Hull then somehow kept the ball out during a melee full of blocked shots and desperate defending before Burrows fluffed his lines from the spot, meaning Chris Wilder's bottom-of-the-table Blades succumbed to a third defeat in four under their returning boss.
The Tigers clung on to see out just their second clean sheet in 26 home games for a win that takes them up to tenth in the table.
'We are beating ourselves' - reaction
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside:
"It's a massive win. From the first minute you could see it would be a battle on every inch of the pitch.
"They had good possession and we were lucky when they hit the post, but we always had our moments.
"Thank God Ivor saved the penalty. I am very happy for him. It is a big relief for Ivor and a good boost for his confidence.
"I am very happy. We had a clean sheet and we were very strong defensively.
"In the second half we could have won the game with some chances.
"The clean sheet was important. When we had possession, if we lost it, we knew it was difficult against this side."
Jakirovic: It's a massive win for us'
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It's incredibly disappointing. We are beating ourselves at the moment. We have to take something out of this.
"We allowed them to get their noses in front and although we got into good positions, we were were not able to find that final bit.
"That's the game-changer. It was loose and rushed and there was no sign of the obvious ability these players have got to change the course of the game. We got into some great positions.
"They sat in and tried to hit us on the counter but we were never in danger. We just couldn't find that final bit."
Wilder: 'We have to take something'
Player of the match
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
