Sheffield United 1 Hull 0: Blades look a team for all weathers as ten-man City see run end

It is to Paul Heckingbottom's immense credit that extenuating factors which have had the potential to derail Sheffield United's remarkable progress under him since late 2021 have not done so.

He has steadfastly focused on the things he can control - and how.This was a game which saw the Blades exhibit their stylish traits going forward in the first half.

The only goal came in just the fourth minute, when Daniel Jebbison, making his first start at Bramall Lane since May 2021, marked it by scoring his maiden goal at S2.

In the second half, United collectively rolled up sleeves to see the game out. This is a team for all weathers. A team 14 points clear of third place.

Hull injected some late pressure but a thoroughly stupid dismissal for a head-butt five minutes from time from substitute Benjamin Tetteh on Oli McBurnie, ended their hopes.

In the process, they lost on the road for the first time under Liam Rosenior - their previous away reverse was on October 9. A six-match unbeaten league run also went south.

Beforehand, Rosenior said that the Blades were a benchmark for his side and while the second period will have appeased him more than the first, there was no gloss on a week which has seen owner Acun Ilicali celebrate a year in charge.

Two names instantly grabbed the attention on the teamsheet in the shape of Jebbison and Aaron Connolly, with the latter given a full debut by City - his previous competitive start was on Good Friday last year.

It proved Jebbison's night, with the young striker justifying Heckingbottom's faith in starting him with a mature showing. It certainly wasn't Connolly's. The loanee missed a huge early chance on an occasion when little went right. A bad Friday.

Jebbison’s goal may have been the difference in the first half, but the contributions of others in red and white were every bit as important.

It should have been no surprise that Iliman Ndiaye - who increasingly looks like a player who has got the measure of the Championship - was at the top of the list.

His close control and instinctive ability to find space was masterful at times, while nuggets of quality also arrived from Sander Berge. Jayden Bogle also had a field day down the right.

Bogle and Anel Ahmedhodzic opened up that avenue early on with the ball inexorably gravitating to the lurking Ndiaye and his low shot deflected nicely into the path of Jebbison, who could scarcely believe his fortune before coolly steering the ball home from close range.

Hull - with their best central defender in Jacob Greaves operating at left-back - did not look like a side boasting such an outstanding recent away record in the first half, certainly defensively.