Verdict: Sheffield United's future prospects undimmed despite '˜memorable' loss

Few teams chasing promotion as intently as the Blades have been doing this season find themselves conceding five times at home.

Surely even fewer suffering such a fate leave the field to a standing ovation. But that was the reaction of the 25,445 crowd at the end of a remarkable contest.

With good cause, too, as this was a game that will live long in the memory. Leon Clarke’s hat-trick may not have been enough to send United back to the top of the Championship. But, even in defeat against a Fulham side inspired by teenage hat-trick hero Ryan Sessegnon, the hosts displayed the battling qualities that any team with genuine aspirations of reaching the Premier League require in abundance.

Tenacity, resolve and no little skill were all apparent from Wilder’s men, who slipped a place in the table to third following Cardiff City’s late win at Barnsley.

Admittedly, United were stretched horribly defensively. So error-prone were the hosts, in fact, that they looked a pale shadow of the backline that before last night had conceded just four times in eight home outings.

This unusually sloppy play at the back allowed Fulham to continue their love affair with Yorkshire. In seven visits to the White Rose county since the start of last season, the Cottagers have claimed 17 points. But for Chris Wood’s equaliser for Leeds United in stoppage-time in August last year, that tally would stand at 19.

Initially, United looked capable of ending that impressive run within the Broad Acres, taking the lead on six minutes.

It was a goal that neatly encapsulated why Blades have been so pleasing on the eye over the past 15 months as John Lundstram’s 40-yard drilled pass from inside his own half was deftly touched inside by Mark Duffy to John Fleck.

He then raced forward 20 or so yards with no opposition before hitting a low shot that David Button could only parry. Clarke, bang in form after netting four times on United’s last outing at the Lane, swooped on the rebound.

Fulham’s response was impressive, netting twice in as many minutes just before the half-hour mark.

First, Cameron Carter-Vickers made a total hash of a back pass to allow Sheyi Ojo to race clear and beat Jamal Blackman.

Then, from the visitors’ very next attack, Sessegnon stepped inside a couple of weak tackles before unleashing a 20-yard shot that flew into the corner of the net.

United replied through Clarke nine minutes later when the striker’s purposeful burst into the penalty area was followed by a shot so powerful that Button was unable to keep it out.

Fulham, however, would not be denied a half-time advantage as Sessegnon volleyed in unmarked at the back post.

After such a pulsating first half, the temptation was to believe the pace would inevitably slacken after the restart and the goals perhaps dry up. Not a bit of it.

A swift break by the visitors on 70 minutes ended with Aboubakar Kamara finding Sheyi Ojo, who drilled a low shot beyond Blackman.

Another accomplished finish from Sessegnon eight minutes later seemed to put the game beyond the Blades, who moments earlier had suffered the frustration of James Hanson’s header being kicked off the line at the other end.

But United were not finished yet as Samir Carruthers’s deflected shot beat Button and then Clarke made it eight goals from his last three appearances by nodding in Billy Sharp’s cross.

Two of the six scheduled minutes of stoppage-time remained, but there was to be no way back for the hosts on a day that had brought the sad passing of The Likely Lads actor Rodney Bewes.

The theme tune to the popular 1970s show that co-starred James Bolam included the line, “The only thing to look forward to is the past”.

Not for Sheffield United, it isn’t. Even allowing for the disappointment of this defeat, the future under Wilder looks very bright, indeed.

Sheffield United: Blackman; Carter-Vickers (Brooks 58), Wright (Hanson 74), O’Connell; Basham, Lundstram, Duffy (Carruthers 60), Fleck, Stevens; Clarke, Sharp. Unused substitutes: Moore, Donaldson, Stearman, Lafferty.

Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Odoi; McDonald (Johansen 82), Norwood; Ojo (Forte 74), Cairney, Sessegnon; Ayite (Kamara 68). Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Kebano, de la Torre, Edun.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).