Dicko’s lift after Hull fans protest
NOUHA DICKO lifted the mood of pessimism and protest around Hull with a second-half goal that could be vital for the strugglers.
The game was held up for a minute in the first half after supporters protesting against the club’s owners, the Allam family, threw sponge balls onto the field, necessitating a clear-up.
There were also prolonged chants for the Allams to quit while Tigers supporters blew whistles during the game in co-ordinated protests.
But the mood lifted briefly, after 55 minutes, when a terrific long-range shot from Dicko was turned around the post by Jamal Blackman.
Sheffield United failed to deal with the corner, allowing Jackson Irvine to set up Dicko who lashed the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.
It was a timely opener for a Hull side looking to improve on a run of just one win from their previous 11 league games and avoid slipping into the bottom three this weekend.
Blackman had to save well with his legs from an early Evandro shot but the protests, and delay while balls were cleared, spoiled their early momentum.
Instead, it was the Blades who ended the half in more threatening fashion as Chris Basham’s cross was headed down by Leon Clarke for John Fleck to shoot wide. And soon after the restart, Lee Evans sent prolific Billy Sharp racing clear and, after he shrugged aside his defender, his shot was blocked by Allan McGregor.
Hull grew in confidence with their goal and Blackman was again required to show sound handling from another Dicko effort, a near-post header from an Ola Aina cross.
Hull had dropped 22 points from winning positions this season and there was an anxious moment for their fans when Richard Stearman went down under a challenge from Aina before they coasted home.