Hull City 0-2 Sheffield United: Oli McBurnie and Sander Berge put the Blades top of the Championship

Oli McBurnie, who could scarcely buy a goal for two years, now cannot stop scoring them as Sheffield United surged back to the Championship summit in style.

The Scotland striker struck in the 20th minute before Norway midfielder Sander Berge sealed victory in the final quarter to reinforce the Blades’ growing status as promotion favourites.

Emerging victorious away from home a tense Yorkshire derby against an upwardly mobile Hull City side demonstrated once again that Paul Heckingbottom’s side could take some stopping this season.

The scars of last season’s play-off semi-final defeat to Nottingham Forest are healing and McBurnie is proving a key figure in their bid to reach the Premier League.

Oli McBurnie scored the opening goal for Sheffield United on their trip to Hull’s KC Stadium

After two difficult years plagued by injuries, illnesses and poor form during which he scored just two goals, he is finally showing why the Blades paid Swansea £20million for him three summers ago.

Collecting a short pass from Max Lowe inside the left channel, McBurnie advanced to the edge of Hull’s penalty box and hit a powerful, if rather hopeful, right-foot shot.

That McBurnie fancied his chances was indicative of the confidence coursing through his veins right now.

Tigers goalkeeper Matt Ingram should have saved it but he allowed the ball to bounce under him, much to the delight of McBurnie and the travelling hordes.

It was McBurnie’s third goal in as many games and sent Heckingbottom’s team on their way back to where they will hope to finish the campaign – on top of the pile.

With 15 minutes remaining, Berge was afforded too much space inside the hosts 18-yard box and he drove a deflected shot past Ingram.

Heckingbottom fought hard to keep Berge on deadline day amid interest from Club Brugge and several Premier League clubs.

Keeping him might the best bit of business United do this summer and for much of this contest he looked a class above the endless industry which so typifies the Championship.

“We’re Sheffield United, we’re top of the league,” came the chant from the raucous away end in a bumper crowd of 20,426.

United have not lost since an opening-day defeat at Watford and this latest success – after four straight home victories – marked their first win on the road this season.

Oli McBurnie’s goal was his third in as many games as the Blades saw off the challenge of Hull

Hull, enjoying a steady revival under new ownership, had won their previous three games at the MKM Stadium.

Shota Arveladze is proving a popular figure with Tigers supporters since his appointment in January on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

After an underwhelming end to last season, when Hull’s priority was to avoid relegation to League One, their start to the current campaign has encouraged hopes of a play-off push.

Supporters turned out in force to give the Tigers their biggest league attendance here since a visit from Tottenham in the Premier League in May 2017.

The points were sealed when Sander Berge put it away with 15 minutes remaining in the match

Much has changed at Hull since then, with Turkish businessman and television personality Acun Ilicali taking over from the unpopular Allam family in January.

Despite their bright start to this season, United always looked capable of moving through the gears when the opportunities arose and with Berge bossing proceedings in the middle of the park.

The Blades had fired a warning to their hosts when George Baldock’s superb volleyed cross from the right flew across the face of Hull’s goal.

Moments later, however, they led when McBurnie tried his luck and was suitably rewarded.

Hull steadied themselves and it needed a brilliant double save by Wes Foderingham to deny Hull’s Oscar Estupinan, who found himself clean through after a counter-attack.

United lost Lowe to injury and he was replaced by Chris Basham, but Hull lacked a clinical touch in front of goal and continued to spurn the few chances that came their way.

Victory was assured for United when Iliman Ndiaye cleverly engineered the space to find the advancing Berge inside the penalty area and drove a powerful right-foot which deflected past Ingram and into the net.