Hull City delivered by far and away their best performance of the season so far on Friday night when they stunned Sheffield United in their own backyard.

Ruben Selles' Tigers romped to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Bramall Lane to claim a third successive away victory - and clean sheet - and become the first City side to win in the red half of Sheffield in the league since Boxing Day 2010.

In truth, the Tigers were good value for the victory and rarely looked in any great danger throughout having been set well on their way by Matt Crooks' terrific early opener. Matty Jacob stepped up off the bench to turn in a second just after the hour and fellow second half arrival Joao Pedro's perseverance forced Harrison Burrows to score an own goal two minutes from time to cap a memorable away night in South Yorkshire and give a major boost to City's survival hopes.

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The benchmark performance

This display had similarities with the thumping win at Southampton almost 12 months ago when City rolled up and turned over a promotion-chasing team on their own turf.

City's problem all season has been their inability to back up good results with more and get themselves on the run like we've seen QPR go on over the past three months.

That performance was so good. It was organised, it was resolute, it was clinical and had plenty of bravery. Every player out there grafted for the cause and they got their rewards, in some style. We've always believed there was something in their locker, and finally, it's crept out. The challenge now is to replicate that level more often and string some results together and get out of this mess once and for all.

Selles getting a tune

It's amazing how quickly things change in football. Some would have you believe they were a group of no-hopers after the QPR defeat, and three days on, they're all heroes; such is the mad, fluid nature of football fandom.

One thing we do know is that the manager is gradually turning this ship around. It hasn't happened as quickly as everybody would have hoped, but then there was a big job on to do that, especially at such a crucial point in the season, and with so many games and a lack of training ground time.

The graft, organisation and courage in that performance comes from the players believing in the manager and his approach, and being able to execute his plan perfectly, as they did. All his new signings involved made a big difference, whether that was Kyle Joseph's running in the first half, Crooks' goal, Eliot Matazo's dynamism or Joe Gelhardt's sheer work ethic, they've made a big difference.

Macca's magic

Often maligned, although not by his peers, Sean McLoughlin put in another really impressive display at Bramall Lane. His night started at left-back and ended with him in a more natural central position.

His clearance almost off the line in the first half was absolutely crucial, as was his block of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi late on in the second half, to keep City's clean sheet preserved and avoid any unwanted panic in the final knocking.

McLoughlin has slotted in at left-back and given the best performances we've seen from anyone in City colours this season, and while it doesn't feel like a long-term solution, the wily old fox (he's 27, by the way), is doing a sterling job.

A huge week leading into the Stoke City game

It may have been a hectic week with Millwall last weekend followed by QPR on Tuesday and the Blades on Friday night, but Selles and his players now have an extra day's rest leading into what is quite clearly the biggest game of their season so far next Saturday, and they have to back this result up. That's the benchmark performance and now they must replicate those levels for the remainder of the campaign, and the home form has to turn around.

Fellow strugglers Stoke City are the visitors to the MKM Stadium, and City simply have to win that game. With just two wins all season in front of their frustrated supporters, getting some home victories under their belt will be paramount in their quest to avoid a catastrophic relegation.

The visit of Stoke is the first of four home games against teams in and around City at the bottom of the table, and they must use the next week to get ready for that contest, and build on this performance, and result.

More new arrivals?

There's just over a week to go until the window shuts for the remainder of the season and boss Ruben Selles will hope to have further additions ahead of the clash with the Potters, and a performance like that in front of the television cameras would have been a good advert from those pondering a move to the MKM Stadium.

The Tigers continue to chase a left-back and a winger, so over the course of the next few days they'll hope to make some significant progress in those areas.

Work so far has been plentiful with Eliot Matazo the sixth arrival, which was confirmed just before kick-off at Bramall Lane on Friday night, and that tally is expected to rise to eight at last.