McGoldrick strikes the sweet spot
CHRIS Wilder happily reflected upon his side’s “best win of the season” as Sheffield United went to the summit with victory over struggling Hull.
David McGoldrick’s 70thminute penalty, allied to favourable results elsewhere, gave his side a key triumph which also consigned their opponents to the bottom of the league.
Wilder said: “We’ve won four on the bounce now so we’ve had to do a lot of things right. I think, pound for pound, that’s the best win of the season.
“It was a grind. It was difficult, but we’ve had a tough schedule. We had to get into the boys a little at half-time to raise the energy levels, raise the tempo. I thought the way we saw the game out was outstanding. I just thought it said everything about us.”
With Wilder naming an unchanged side for a fourth consecutive game, it was not surprising that United were soon on the front foot. The hosts came close after just six minutes when Chris Basham’s cross from the right bamboozled Reece Burke, whose uncertainty nearly gifted Enda Stevens a tap-in.
The visitors’ cause was also hindered by an injury to striker Fraizer Campbell, who was replaced by Nouha Dicko on the half-hour mark.
But Hull’s enforced change coincided with a slight shift in momentum as Nigel Adkins’ side cautiously played their way into contention – albeit in non-threatening areas.
Yet United remained a more potent offensive force, especially when the impressive Duffy had the ball.
And it was the 32-year-old playmaker who helped re-energise an increasingly frustrated Bramall Lane crowd with a cute back-heel towards Enda Stevens inside the Hull penalty area.
Stevens struck firmly on target, but David Marshall was equal to it with a clean save.
Hull made a fleet-footed start to the second half, with Dicko’s strike off an astute Chris Martin flick-on nicely saved by Dean Henderson at his near post.
Henderson later produced a significant stop when he parried Markus Henriksen’s header away for a corner.
Henriksen was unmarked from Jackson’s Irvine’s fine cross from the right and should have scored from seven yards.
Sheffield United also had their moments – Billy Sharp hooked Kieron Freeman’s header wide after 61 minutes – but they lacked the necessary gold-dust where it mattered. That was until McGoldrick sent Marshall the wrong way with a sweetly-taken spot-kick.
Sheffield United’s goal came slightly against the run of play, and although Hull tried hard in pursuit of an equaliser, they created little of note and Henderson was not tested again.
Hull have now lost eight of 12 league games this season, with their plight compounded by a hostile relationship between supporters and the club’s owners, the Allam family.
Manager Nigel Adkins said: “It is what it is. The league table doesn’t lie. It’s not where you want to be in the division – you can’t hide away from that.
“We are creating chances and we do look solid defensively. Sometimes it’s fine margins.”