Sheffield United beat Hull City to maintain unbeaten start in Championship
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Gus Hamer put Blades ahead with tidy low finish
Sub Sam McCallum doubled lead after break
Tigers have failed to win any of opening six games under new boss Tim Walter
10 Championship games on Saturday including Leeds v Burnley at 12:30 BST
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield
Image source, Rex FeaturesChris Wilder has been standing on the edge of his technical area, arms out wide in an Angel of the North pose.
He wants to see a bit more from his side.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Just a momentary let-up in the 100mph action for a couple of minutes but it ends as Blades break and Harrison Burrows has a first-time effort from the edge of the box charged-down.
Back to the end-to-end pattern. We go again.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Rob Kozluk
Ex-Sheffield United defender on BBC Radio Sheffield
When Anel Ahmedhodzic strides out with the ball, there's probably nobody better in the Championship.
He did a great bit of covering just now to deal with the danger when Hull tried to break.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Image source, Rex FeaturesAnother long ball from the back almost catches out the Hull defence.
Kieffer Moore, who is massive, and hard to miss, drifts into space behind the defence to gather the ball and tries to slot Jes Rak-Sakyi in... only a desperate lunge prevents him getting on the end of the ball and though the ball beats Ivor Pandur, it is eventually hacked away from the Tigers goalmouth.
#bbcefl, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)
Image source, Rex FeaturesCraig: On Charlie Hughes, what is going on? We tried signing him for weeks, finally get it done and he hasn't played at all. Now he's not on the bench.
Hughes has been an unused substitute three times since the 20-year-old England youth international joined Hull for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal on 16 August. Not sure why he's missing tonight.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Another lung-busting drive down the Blades right from Jes Rak-Sakyi after pinching possession but his cut-back is cleared.
The ball is recycled to Harrison Burrows on the left and his better cut-back is met by Kieffer Moore, only for his near-post effort to be deflected past the post by Sean McLoughlin.
Breathless stuff, this.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Peter Swan
Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside
Tom Huddlestone-esque, that was.
It was a great strike. The only unfortunate thing for us was that it was straight at the 'keeper.
Either side of him, I could have seen that going in.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Gus Hamer goes into the book. Anyone got bingo yet?
He hauls down Abu Kamara as he lopes through towards the box and has his name taken.
Abdulkadir Omur takes a 30-yard knuckleball free-kick and Michael Cooper produces a flying save to tip it over the bar.
All good stuff, there.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Kieffer Moore will want this back. He is played clean through down the left channel and bears down into the City box. He tries to work his way past the recovering defender but instead opts for a reverse pass to Callum O'Hare.
It sends him wide and his attempt to return the favour to Moore sails over even the imposing target man's head.
A let off for the Tigers who were opened up with ease once again.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
United keeper Michael Cooper JUST gets to a backpass ahead of Chris Bedia to hack clear.
Both defences are seemingly intent on giving everyone kittens this evening. No relaxing return to EFL action for us.
It's Friday the 13th, I suppose. The perfect day for horrors...
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Hull win another corner and 'get it in the mixer' this time - egged on by their fans who are not, seemingly, in favour of playing it short and risking another breakaway Blades goal.
Lewie Coyle rises highest but can't get the right connection to trouble Michael Cooper in the Blades goal.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Is Tim Walter the right boss to take you forward Tigers fans? It's not been a great start to his tenure, but it's only five and a bit games deep.
Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.
Image source, Rex FeaturesHull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Abu Kamara has looked dangerous when he's had the ball on the left for Hull but his low crosses have twice been spirited away by the Blades defence.
The visitors threaten to break away as Hamer skips down the left and tries to find Kieffer Moore in the middle, only to under-hit his final ball.
Moore was on the verge of a move to Hull in the summer - reportedly in a taxi to join the City pre-season squad.
Now he's trying to put United 2-0 up at Hull.
Funny old game.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Peter Swan
Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside
That should never happen, three against one.
I know Hull are trying to play out and open teams up but you can't leave yourself that wide open at the back.
If you mess around and get caught out, good teams will punish you.
Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United
Rob Kozluk
Ex-Sheffield United defender on BBC Radio Sheffield
Image source, Rex FeaturesI thought when O'Hare went through, he asked a lot of Hamer.
Credit to Hamer - that's why he's one of the top players in the Championship. To put that away is fantastic.
Gus Hamer
Image source, Rex FeaturesIt was Hull who were threatening the opening goal at the other end seconds before, winning a corner, but they take it short and last man Mo Belloumi is robbed by Callum O'Hare who drives forward before playing Gus Hamer in on the right of the box to provide a fine angled finish.
A devastating break and a superb finish to cap it. Hull are punished in possession. And there had been warning signs, in truth.
Hull City 0-0 Sheffield United
Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield
Over the course of the 90 minutes, Hull City might give Sheffield United a goal - let alone having to earn one.
City fans are rallying behind their team at the minute.
Hull City 0-0 Sheffield United
Sweeper keepers at both ends as Michael Cooper, resplendent in fluorescent hot pink this evening, races out of his box to head a long diagonal into touch.
City can't quite take a throw-in quick enough to catch him off his line before he got back to the safety of his area.
Hull City 0-0 Sheffield United
Phew. Almost a calamity in the Hull defence but the ball squirts between the centre-backs and Ivor Pandur is able to race to the edge of his area to hack clear before any Blades could capitalise.
Not the most comfortable watch in possession in their own third, thus far, Hull.
Hull City 0-0 Sheffield United
Mike White
BBC Radio Humberside sports editor
City have struggled with players in that number 10 role.
Sheffield United's Callum O'Hare could cause them problems.
Sheffield United have won three league games this season, as many as they did in the whole of last season in the Premier League
Unbeaten Sheffield United continued their encouraging start to the season as they scored twice on the counter-attack to consign winless Hull City to a second successive Championship defeat.
The Blades took the lead when Callum O'Hare pinched the ball from Tigers debutant Mohamed Belloumi 30 yards from his own goal and was able to progress unchecked before teeing up Gus Hamer to confidently fire into the bottom corner.
Two United substitutes combined for the second after the break when the away side cleared a corner up past the halfway line and Andre Brooks backheeled the ball to the marauding Sam McCallum to slam home.
Marvin Mehlem had a great chance to pull one back for the hosts but sent a free header thundering against the crossbar from six yards out.
That was close as Tim Walter's men came to getting back into the game though, despite dominating possession and winning 16 corners.
They remain without victory in their six league and cup matches this campaign.
However, with their third victory from five games the Blades have now won as many league matches this season as they managed in the whole of 2023-24 when they finished bottom of the Premier League.
Chris Wilder's resurgent side have now scored in the first 15 minutes in four of those five Championship matches and climbed to third in the early-season table despite a two-point deduction.
With the box loaded, Hull worked a corner short down their left and played it back to last man Belloumi but O'Hare easily stole possession and within seconds the ball was in their net through Hamer's third goal of the season.
Abdus Omur's well-struck free-kick forced Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper into a smart stop before the break.
However, it was the visitors who looked more likely to get the second goal, more than once passing up decent opportunities on the counter, with Hull guilty of over-playing in dangerous areas.
Vini Souza's close-range shot was well kept out by Ivor Pandur in the City goal after the break but there was nothing the Croatian could do to stop the Blades doubling their lead.
Once again it came from a Tigers corner. The ball was initially cleared up as far as substitute Rhian Brewster near the halfway line on the right and his diagonal ball was kept in by Kieffer Moore, who easily shoulder-barged Liam Millar off it.
The Welshman linked up with Brooks who cutely set up McCallum for his first goal for the club.
German midfielder Mehlem should have got the home side on the scoreboard from Lewie Coyle's cross but could not get his header on target and they remain on just two goals for the season.
The Tigers travel to Stoke next Friday, while the Blades host Derby a week on Saturday.
Hull City boss Tim Walter told BBC Radio Humberside:
"That's football and it's human that you make mistakes.
"We played a good, courageous game. We were very brave and kept going until the end. I'm proud of my boys.
"The team was more fluid and more creative but we just didn't have the finishing touch. We had 20 or 30 crosses but they weren't good.
"You can only learn from mistakes. I told the boys that they have to stay courageous. If we change then we can't improve.
"I'll stick with this approach 100%. That is how I have been successful. I'm very convinced of my game and my boys."
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I'm delighted with it but I didn't think it was a great performance.
"We'll play better and we have played better this season. When they gave us so many chances to counter and add to our lead in the first half we didn't make the most of it.
"The shape of the team was good at the end. We never really gave them any clear opportunities and I thought our two centre halves were outstanding.
"Love a Friday night away win. We can get our head on the pillow tonight and enjoy our weekend."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| |
| 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| |
| 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| |
| 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| |
| 11 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| |
| 12 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 5 |
| |
| 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| |
| 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 5 |
| |
| 15 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 17 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 18 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 3 |
| |
| 19 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 3 |
| |
| 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
| |
| 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 3 |
| |
| 22 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 2 |
| |
| 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 1 |
| |
| 24 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 1 |
|
Manager: Tim Walter
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager: Chris Wilder
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: Tim Walter
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager: Chris Wilder
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Championship
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Hull have lost five of their last six league games against Sheffield United (D1), scoring just one goal in that run in a 3-1 defeat in September 2021.
Sheffield United have won their last three away league visits to Hull City since losing 1-0 in February 2018 in Chris Wilder’s first spell in charge.
Hull are winless in their opening four Championship games so far this season (D3 L1), last enduring a longer winless start to a league campaign in 2006-07 (six games).
Sheffield United are unbeaten in their opening four Championship matches this season (W2 D2), last enjoying a longer unbeaten start to a league season in 2012-13 in League One (first 16 games).
The only two players in the Championship this season to carry the ball 1,000+ metres are both Hull City defenders – Lewie Coyle (1,034m) and Alfie Jones (1,003m).
