Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder refused to criticise his players after a shock 3-0 home defeat to Hull denied them the chance to regain top spot in the Sky Bet Championship.
Hull’s new signing Matt Crooks fired them into an early lead before substitute Matty Jacob and Harrison Burrows’ late own goal sealed their third straight away win and their first at Bramall Lane since 2010.
The Blades, who had conceded only five goals at Bramall Lane this season before this setback, remain second in the table behind Leeds while Ruben Selles’ victorious Hull climbed out of the relegation zone.
Wilder said: “Maybe it’s just caught up with us a little bit. I’ve got to say congratulations to Ruben and his side. Getting the first goal was key tonight.
“They defended very well. Compact. Sat in and made it difficult and we never found that rhythm and connection and quality round the edge of their box.”
United slipped to their fifth league defeat of the campaign and remain two points clear of third-placed Burnley, who face Leeds at home on Monday.
Wilder added: “There will be a dramatic verdict on it by everybody, the Championship, our own supporters, but we’ve been in it long enough to know sometimes you have these nights.
“We’ll get back on the bike. I’m not going to beat the players up. That’s (nearly) 60 points, we’re in amongst it and have done a lot of things right this season.
“We’ll put our arms round these players because they’re giving everything. We need a big week. Doesn’t mean we’re going to go soft on them.
“But we’ll give them the courage and belief to get back on the bike. What we’ve done so far is pretty good, 28 games (nearly) 60 points.”
Hull’s seventh league win of the season lifted them out of the bottom three and up to 18th and former Reading manager Selles, who replaced Tim Walter in December, was delighted.
Selles said: “I think that’s a statement performance. Obviously the victory comes with the performance. We were very solid with the things we did today.
“I know there are some good things in this team. We have been talking about that.
“I expect my team to have character and to play the game we wanted and I think we saw all these things today.”
The Tigers have made six signings in the January transfer window and two of them – Crooks and Kyle Joseph – made their first starts for the club.
“Now it’s for us to win matches regularly and be competitive regularly,” Selles added. “That is the real challenge for us.
“The club has made a big move in the market to support the team and bring in the players who fit the way we want to play and the character of the dressing room that we want to create. That’s what we showed today.”
