Clarke hits four as the Blades cut Hull apart

HERO OF THE WEEK

SHEFFIELD UNITED would have been shocked to have gone behind against a Hull side struggling for form. Step up Leon Clarke. Clarke (below) has been integral to the Blades’ unexpected rise to second in the league. Against the Tigers the 32-year- old provider turned goalscorer, hitting four — half of his total for the season so far— and earning a key three points in United’s push for promotion.

ZERO OF THE WEEK

DERBY were two goals down but on the up when Curtis Davies played the ball back to goalkeeper Scott Carson. Or, at least, he thought he did. Roy Beerens latched on to the pass and scored to put Reading three goals ahead. Derby bagged a consolation either side of a Modou Barrow tap-in but their fate was sealed from the moment Davies played it short.

SHOCKER OF THE DAY

REFEREES are best when they go unnoticed. Unfortunately, Tony Harrington was the talk of The Den after his decision to send off Jed Wallace. Millwall had controlled the game until Wallace put in a strong tackle on Tom Flanagan. It was a yellow-card offence, but no more. Wallace was shown a red.

YOUNGSTER TO WATCH

TYLER WALKER has qualities even his famous father Des could not boast. The pacy Nottingham Forest defender did win a pair of League Cups and 59 England caps, but was not renowned for his goalscoring. His son, Tyler, however, scored twice for Forest against QPR in a 4-0 win.

GOAL OF THE WEEK

A THIRD goal in three games by Adam Reach was the pick for Sheffield Wednesday against Aston Villa. John Terry headed a clearance which fell to Ross Wallace. He teed up Reach, who fired home a sweet left-foot volley from 25 yards for a first-minute lead.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND

MICK McCARTHY, who has had a mixed relationship with Ipswich’s fans, after the 3-0 victory over Preston: ‘It always looks better when you’ve scored three goals, but if it had ended 0-0 then they’d have booed the s*** out of me coming off.’