Harrison Burrows wastes late penalty as Sheffield United slip to defeat at Hull

Harrison Burrows missed a late penalty for struggling Sheffield United as Hull secured their third win of the Sky Bet Championship season, winning 1-0 at the MKM Stadium.

David Akintola gave the Tigers a first-half lead after 30 minutes before the Blades’ Gustavo Hamer shot against the post.

Hull sat on their lead for large periods of the second half and Hamer was denied a leveller on more than one occasion before goalkeeper Ivor Pandur came to his side’s rescue when he saved substitute Burrows’ weak spot-kick.

Hamer curled an early free-kick wide of the target from 25 yards before the hosts suffered an early blow when former Blades midfielder John Lundstram limped off with what looked like a calf injury with 14 minutes gone.

Hull nearly took the lead when Regan Slater found space in the area only for his shot to be deflected for a corner by Mark McGuinness.

United went even closer as the Tigers failed to clear a corner but Hamer’s shot from the left side of the area came back off the near post.

The hosts broke the deadlock on the half hour as Lewie Coyle’s cross from the right found Akintola at the far post. Akintola chested down before his shot back across goal hit a defender on its way in for his first goal for the club.

Sydie Peck wasted a good chance to level when he headed over from Hamer’s free-kick to the far post six minutes before the break.

Former Blades striker Oli McBurnie nearly added a second for Hull early in the second half as he benefited from Ben Mee’s poor pass but his shot with the outside of his right foot was easy for Michael Cooper to save.

Akintola had an opening to get his second but sliced his shot off target as Hull relieved the pressure with a breakaway just before the hour.

He then just failed to find Darko Gyabi with a low cross as the home side relied on the breakaway once more.

Pandur saved low to his right to deny Hamer once more with 25 minutes remaining as Hull maintained their slender lead.

Charlie Hughes’ fine block kept out Tyrese Campbell’s shot after Hull’s Amir Hadziahmetovic gave the ball away in midfield.

Hamer fired wide from the edge of the area as the Blades searched in vain for an equaliser.

Ryan Giles could not reach an unmarked McBurnie with a low cross 10 minutes from the end and Hull nearly paid a heavy price when Matt Crooks had to block a shot on the line from a corner.

The Blades were given a chance to level when substitute Semi Ajayi gave away a penalty with two minutes to go. However, Pandur dived to his right to save Burrows’ poor effort.