David McGoldrick scores double against Hull as Sheffield United edge closer to Premier League return 

David McGoldrick - David McGoldrick scores double as Sheffield United edge closer to Premier League return
David McGoldrick reels away in celebration after scoring his and Sheffield United's second of the afternoon Credit: Action Images

Hull City 0 Sheffield United 3

If promotion to the Premier League is worth the best part of £200 million, David McGoldrick is shaping up as the free transfer who could earn Sheffield United a fortune.   

Two years after leaving League One, United are two matches from the top flight after the striker’s double was followed by Enda Stevens’ second goal over Easter. The Blades are agonisingly close to ending their 12-year exile from the elite but dealing with the pressure superbly.

“The position speaks for itself: 85 points with two games to go,” said manager Chris Wilder. “We had to have a big weekend. To win games you have to tick a lot of boxes and I thought we ticked a lot. This was never going to be a straightforward game.” Yet his side made it seem simple to condemn Hull to a first home defeat since November just as McGoldrick made it look easy to cope in the absence of injured top scorer and captain Billy Sharp.

“Billy has been integral so we had to have other characters stand up,” added Wilder. “He has done that and not just on the pitch. He was outstanding.” McGoldrick has 15 goals, 14 of them in victories, and if he is proof of Wilder’s skills as a bargain hunter, he is also an indictment of Ipswich. They released McGoldrick last summer and are now bound for League One. They could be two divisions below him in August. 

McGoldrick has also served as a scourge of Hull. After scoring an October winner against City, he went one better with a brace. Eric Lichaj left McGoldrick utterly unmarked to head in John Fleck’s corner before he added a spectacular strike from 25 yards.

Another Republic of Ireland international delivered United’s third. Wilder’s attacking wing-backs combined profitably when Stevens, who had only struck once all season, headed in George Baldock’s cross for his second goal in three days. “It was poor defending for all three goals,” admitted Hull manager Nigel Adkins. “It was comfortable for them.”

The only fight came in the stands, with reports of some supporters trading punches after McGoldrick’s opener as some United fans had infiltrated the home end. “They have got passionate supporters who will probably see them across the line,” added Adkins, a former United manager. “They will probably get in the top two.”

His own team were bottom in October. After their unexpected play-off push ended, they are guaranteed to be in the Championship but still face an uncertain future. Adkins omitted first-choice goalkeeper David Marshall, who is set to leave on a free transfer, while his own contract expires in the summer.

He said: “I’ll sit down with the owner on Thursday for our next chat to see where we’re going as a football club and where we’ll be financially.”

Match details

Hull City (4-4-1-1): Long; Kane, McKenzie, De Wijs, Lichaj; Bowen, Batty, Irvine, Grosicki; Pugh (Toral 68); Campbell (Dicko 68).
Substitutes not used: Marshall (g), Stewart, Evandro, Martin, Ridgewell.
Sheffield United (3-4-1-2): Henderson; Cranie, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; Duffy (Basham 60); McGoldrick (Washington 90), Hogan (Madine 71).
Substitutes not used: Moore (g), Lundstram, Dowell, Stearman.
Goals: McGoldrick 2 (10, 22), Stevens (42).
Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)
Attendance: 14,116.

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