Clarke inspires Blades comeback by scoring four goals

Leon Clarke produced a second-half masterclass by scoring four second-half goals to complete Sheffield United’s comeback against Hull City.

Kamil Grosicki broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark with a fantastic long-range effort which gave The Tigers the lead going into half-time. 

The win moves The Blades up into second in the Championship table, two points behind the leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

The English striker celebrates with team mates as he puts his side ahead at Bramall Lane

Clarke equalises for the Blades after Kamil Grosicki broke the deadlock in the first half

Hull keeper Allan McGregor was called into action early on, making a good save to keep out Billy Sharp’s close-range shot after a cross from Enda Stevens caused problems for the visiting defence.

Grosicki found himself in space on the left wing and played a low ball across the face of goal but there was no-one there to apply the finishing touch.

Seb Larsson then had Hull’s first effort on goal, a long-range strike which was palmed away by keeper Simon Moore.

McGregor produced a superb save to prevent the hosts from taking the lead, keeping out Clarke’s close-range header after the striker met a cross from Mark Duffy.

Sheffield United loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers set up Clarke’s first on the 53rd minute

Kamil Grosicki’s stunning long-range strike broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark

Grosicki then opened the scoring with a superb 25-yard effort, the ball going beyond Moore and into the roof of the net.

Fraizer Campbell unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty, claiming that a United defender handled the ball when blocking his route to goal.

McGregor again came to his side’s rescue, tipping Jack O’Connell’s thunderous shot over the bar.

Grosicki had another chance to score, when he sliced his shot wide from inside the area after Jarrod Bowen and Fikayo Tomori linked up well to create the opening.

When McGregor was beaten towards the end of the half, Jarrod Bowen was on hand to head off the line at the far post from John Fleck’s free-kick.

McGregor came to his side’s rescue again, early in the second half, keeping out Clarke’s header from close-range following a Fleck free-kick.

The 32-year-old celebrates scoring his fourth goal with Blades midfielder David Brooks

The Blades striker takes home the match ball and moves his side up into second in the table

When the ball fell to Stevens inside the area, the defender fired well over.

The equaliser came in the 53rd minute when Chris Basham whipped in a low cross from the right and Clarke found the net with a deft, near-post flick.

Sharp put a shot wide from inside the area while at the other end, Stevens made a fine interception to cut out the danger as Campbell threatened to break free.

Clarke wasted a great opportunity, shooting straight at McGregor with the goal at his mercy and also firing over.

The impressive McGregor again thwarted the hosts when Sharp looked certain to score, saving the striker’s shot with his legs.

United continued to press with O’Connell powering a header wide from Duffy’s corner.

The pressure paid off in the 76th minute when Duffy slipped the ball through to Clarke inside the area and the striker dinked the ball over McGregor.

Clarke completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute with a far post header from Sharp’s cross.

Clarke scored again two minutes from time after the Hull defence failed to clear to add the gloss to the win.

The Blades now remain unbeaten in 16 Yorkshire derbies and continue their fine home form against Hull City in all competitions, having lost just once in 18 meetings.