Sergej Jakirovic impressed by Ivor Pandur penalty save that sealed win for Hull

Sergej Jakirovic praised goalkeeper Ivor Pandur after his late penalty save denied Harrison Burrows and earned Hull a 1-0 over Sheffield United.

Pandur came to his side’s rescue to secure a third Sky Bet Championship win of the season against opponents who sit at the bottom of the table following an eighth defeat.

David Akintola gave the Tigers the lead after 30 minutes at the MKM Stadium before the Blades’ Gustavo Hamer shot against the post.

Hull sat on their lead for large periods of the second half as Hamer was denied a leveller on more than one occasion, before Pandur’s late heroics secured the victory.

Jakirovic said: “Thank God he saved the penalty. I am very happy for Ivor. It is a big relief for him and a good boost for his confidence.

“I am very happy that we won 1-0. We had a clean sheet and today we were very strong defensively.

“We were lucky because they hit the post but in the second half we could have won the game with some chances.

“The clean sheet was important. When we had possession if we lost it, we knew it was difficult against this side.

“For me from the first second I saw a battle for every inch on the pitch.”

Hull broke the deadlock on the half hour as Lewie Coyle’s cross from the right found Akintola at the far post.

Akintola chested down before his shot back across goal hit a defender on its way in for his first goal for the club.

Hamer, denied by the post in the first half, saw Pandur get down low to his right to keep out another shot after the break.

Semi Ajayi conceded the penalty with two minutes to go but Pandur dived to his right to save substitute Burrows’ poor effort from the spot.

Blades boss Chris Wilder admitted his side failed to make the most of the opportunities they had against Hull, who spent much of the second half sitting on their lead.

He said: “We got into so many positions, and we have to find that moment of quality to win the game. When we get into those positions, we have to put teams to bed.

“We need patience, we need time to work, but players have got to give their heads a shake. At times players have got to find those answers.

“We should have got something from the game here and we haven’t. It’s frustrating for the supporters and for the players.

“From our point of view, we’ve not been able to deliver when we get in those positions.

“We competed all over the pitch and got into some great positions and that is where you’ve got to come alive.

“I felt we dealt with the majority of their strengths pretty well. When we had an opportunity of finding that last little bit we never found it. We’ve not come up with that little bit.

“I think it’s an individual mentality to be calm. It looks like previous performances have affected those players who can produce those big moments.”