Sheffield United vs Hull City

Looking at the match against Sheffield United this Friday, a team firmly on course to be promoted come the end of this season, its best to put this game into its context of our time under Rosenior so far.

There was unabashed jubilation as the final whistle blew at the MKM last Saturday. The final touch of the ball was Oscar Estupinan’s, and he mercifully used it to rescue a point in what mere seconds previously had led us collectively to lament our worst performance of Rosenior’s tenure.

Despite this poor performance and yet another home game without a much, much overdue 3 points there’s actually a fair amount to be pleased about. 1 league loss in 9 under Rosenior, and the away form sees 3 wins and 2 draws. Much more than that we’ve seen Shota Avaladze’s chaotic menagerie of players turn into a hard-working team. Indeed last weekend’s game against Huddersfield, whilst the worst under Rosenior we’ve seen was still firmly levels above what we’ve witnessed this season. We are a different beast to when we last played Sheffield United.

Shota got a chance in September with our current squad, losing 2-0. Before that it was back in February, 0-0 with a side newly his. Before that Grant Mccann and Nigel Adkins had a couple go’s (two losses and 7 conceded to 1 in reply). Looking at the recent history of our games against the Blades and we’ve been several wildly different sides.

Now though, with a steady away form and a team pulling in the same direction under a manager who’s elevated the squad, we might be in the best shape we’ve been in a long time entering this match. That home game against Huddersfield feels like an aberration when considered against our recent thrashing of wigan, win against Birmingham and (despite losing) giving Fulham one of their hardest games in recent memory despite them sitting pretty at 6th in the Premier League.

We might not win against Sheffield United this Friday, but it’s doubtless we’re going to give a very good account of ourselves. Have a faithful away following singing their hearts out for a team well deserving of it, and let’s face, another Estupinan goal. It’s a good place to be in, and all city fans eyes should be firmly affixed upward at what levels we can reach.

Mike Try for Beverley FM & Hull City OSC.