Hull shock promotion-chasing Sheffield United

Hull stunned Sky Bet Championship promotion-chasers Sheffield United with a 3-0 win at Bramall Lane to climb out of the bottom three.

Matt Crooks gave the Tigers an early lead and substitute Matty Jacob struck in the second half before the Blades' misery was completed by defender Harrison Burrows’ late own goal.

Ruben Selles’ side sealed their third straight away win and it was Hull’s first at the South Yorkshire ground since 2010.

The Blades, who had not lost to Hull in their previous seven league encounters, slipped to their fifth Championship defeat of the season and missed the chance to leapfrog Leeds back into top spot.

Blades striker Ben Brereton Diaz went close to an early opening goal in his first start since returning to the club on loan from Southampton this week, with the recalled Ivor Pandur turning his angled shot away for a corner.

But Hull broke from a corner to take a shock sixth-minute lead following a rare Blades defensive lapse this season.

Adam Gilchrist miscued his attempted clearance and former Middlesbrough midfielder Crooks – signed from Salt Lake City and one of six new January signings for the Tigers – pounced to curl home an excellent finish.

It was only the sixth goal the Blades have conceded at Bramall Lane in the Championship this season, while they have kept 16 clean sheets in all.

United also handed a debut to Republic of Ireland striker Tom Cannon, signed from Leicester for a reported fee of around £10million earlier on Friday.

But after the Blades had laboured to a 2-1 win at Swansea on Tuesday this was another disjointed display.

Former Blackpool striker Kyle Joseph made his Hull debut and on-loan Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt his second start and they both helped make the visitors a threat on the