Sheffield United quietly building something special at Bramall Lane as new boy makes instant impact

Sheffield United may only be five matches into a long and arduous 46-game Championship campaign that they know, from recent experiences, will be full of twists and turns. But there is a growing feeling that something special is growing at Bramall Lane again, after Friday’s impressive victory at Hull City.

It was not, by a long stretch, their most free-flowing performance. In fact so many of their key actors were a little off it. But what could not be questioned was United’s attitude and application as they remained patient in the face of Hull’s own unique style, took one of their many opportunities to go ahead and then managed the game well enough to run out 2-0 winners.

United supporters rally around Anel in touching moment after Hull win

Boss Chris Wilder admitted afterwards that he didn’t feel as comfortable as other observers did from his touchline position but it is on evenings like that - gritty and gutsy victories - upon which special campaigns can be built. The manager has seen too much football to make such statements this early but there is no denying how impressive the United turnaround has been. The painful memories of last season’s relegation season may have not been banished completely but are in the back of many Blades fans’ minds at the minute.

This club has been at its best in recent history when the players and manager are connected with its supporters, a link that was fractured early on last season and hanging on by a thread come the summer after relegation. But a post-season clearout and patient, focused recruitment drive, amongst a difficult backdrop of ongoing takeover uncertainty, has changed the mood completely; encapsulated perfectly by more jubilant scenes in the United away end, both during and after their third successive away win at Hull.

“I was buzzing,” said defender Sam McCallum of the celebrations after his second goal, which he described as “a tackle” after coming off the bench. “There’s no better feeling really. We’re five unbeaten now and to be honest, I think we’re building something here. It’s too early to call anything but it really feels like that. We’ve got a good group of lads who all want to play, and want to get the points.”

McCallum perhaps sums up that character aspect as much as anyone. Signed in the summer after his Norwich City deal expired, he is one of four senior left-backs competing for one position and has had to bide his time after seeing Harrison Burrows impress since following him through the Bramall Lane entrance door. But McCallum was bright off the bench in the win over Watford before the international break and made a quick impact at Hull.

He looks, on early viewing, a player who looks to make a mark on a game rather than pass it by and his combination with Burrows worked well, allowing either man to commit themselves forward in the knowledge that the other will fill in behind. His form, with Rhys Norrington-Davies and Harry Boyes also available alongside Burrows, will give Wilder an ongoing selection dilemma as United look to keep their good start going this weekend at home to Derby County.