Former Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock hailed Hull City's passion and bravery in their emphatic 3-0 win against his former club on Friday night.

City roared to just a third league win at Bramall Lane since 1971 - a run of 19 league games thanks to goals from Matt Crooks, Matty Jacob, and a Harrison Burrows own goal late on, and in truth, Ruben Selles' side could have added to that tally.

Key to that impressive victory, which inflicted just a second home loss on United, who had conceded only five goals at Bramall Lane in the league in their previous 13 games, was their work ethic and battling qualities from back to front. They limited the hosts to just two shots on target in the game, one of which came in added time at the end, and the first coming early on from Ben Brereton-Diaz's scrambled effort.

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Experienced boss Warnock and legendary former Tigers skipper Curtis Davies spoke to Selles after the game during Sky Sports' coverage, praising the Tigers' display in Sheffield as they clinched a third consecutive away victory without conceding a goal.

"I just wanted to say that you can have all your tactics, you can do this, and you can do that. You can have one phase and two phases, but do you know what I loved? I loved your tackling, putting your bodies on the line, winning your headers and stopping crosses and things," the eight-time promotion-winning manager said. "That, for me, the passion, was what you needed. I was really, really pleased for you."

In what has largely been a nightmare season for City, much of the criticism levied at the Tigers has been their lack of defensive organisation, and willingness to stop crosses and block shots. Selles had added some much-needed solidity in recent weeks, especially away from home, and it certainly impressed the former Blades' supremo.

"I loved the passion they played with," Warnock continued. "I haven't seen that really when I've watched Hull (City), if I'm honest, earlier on in the season. I've watched a few Championship games lately, and I'm amazed how many games I watch, and there's not a lot of passion.

"Stopping crosses, winning headers, tackles; a lot of players don't do it now. They all do things (differently now) because they sign players on stats. Stats haven't won the game (against United), that passion, that belief that they're going to win that tackle, if somebody gets past him, his mate comes around the back and gets him out of the cart. I loved it, the way they played as a team."

Never one to resist the chance to make a cheeky remark, Warnock didn't disappoint, giving Selles a piece of advice about how to handle new signing Crooks following his wonderful opening goal.

"Matt Crooks, I had him at Middlesbrough, you will absolutely love him. You'll have to give him a few kicks up the backside now and then, but you'll love managing him, Ruben," joked the 76-year-old.