Oli McBurnie (left) did not celebrate his goal against the side he made 146 league appearances for between 2019 and 2024
Championship play-off chasers Hull City conceded two late goals to lose at Sheffield United after having John Lundstram sent off.
The away side took a fifth minute lead when Sydie Peck's pass was intercepted by Liam Millar and he pushed forward before slipping former Blade Oli McBurnie in to score.
Another former United player, Lundstram, was sent off for a second bookable offence with 15 minutes to go, although he argued he had been impeded by referee John Brooks before he fouled Jairo Riedewald.
Riedewald was then felled in the area by Kyle Joseph and Gus Hamer scored the resultant penalty in the 85th minute before Danny Ings scored an unlikely winner for the hosts when he poked home moments after coming on
The Tigers are winless in their past three matches and are four points above seventh-placed Wrexham, having played a game more.
On the other hand, victory ended Chris Wilder's side's six-game winless run and moved them up to 16th.
Blades pinch points from Tigers' grasp
It remains to be seen how damaging Saturday's result will prove to be for Hull City, who have now won just two of their past eight games.
McBurnie, making his first return to the club he made 146 league appearances for in five years, got them off to the perfect start with his 13th goal of the season.
The Scotland international almost made it 2-0 but Mark McGuiness scrambled his acrobatic effort off the line.
Sheffield United looked set to stretch their winless run to seven games before the game turned on Lundstram's red card.
The midfielder, who played 108 times in the league for the Blades between 2017 and 2021, had been booked less than 10 minutes earlier for a coming together with McGuiness and then took out Riedewald on the halfway line.
However, he, along with his team-mates and Tigers staff, argued he had been prevented from getting to the ball by the positioning of Brooks.
Hull's sense of injustice was not improved when Brooks awarded the home side a penalty for a foul by Joseph on Riedewald and Hamer confidently slotted the ball to Ivor Pandur's left.
Ings then compounded a dreadful 13 minutes for the away side when he scored just his second goal of the season to win it for United.
Hull will look to get their top six push back on track when they welcome midtable Birmingham next Saturday, while the Blades travel to Watford the same afternoon.
'We need VAR in Championship' - reaction
Wilder: 'Delighted for the supporters'
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I'm delighted for the supporters that we got a win because it's an expectant club and crowd and we've not delivered on what we should have done.
"Not winning in six games is not good enough for me or the football club.
"It was a game of basketball, it could have been 4-4 at half time.
"We gave them their goal, they didn't need to work hard for it. Their opportunities, we've given them.
"I felt it was the right time to get Danny on. I challenged the subs before the game to make a difference and change the game because I don't think they have enough this season. Thankfully we did."
Jakirovic: 'We deserved to take something'
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside:
"I think we played a good game, we were the better team and we had the better chances.
"I can not speak much (about the refereeing) because they will punish me.
"The referee was in the way of Lunny and he couldn't move and was late on the ball and for me, the penalty was for nothing.
"There is also maybe an offside (on their winning goal) and this is why we need VAR in this league. It is a crucial moment for our team.
"If you are a neutral it was an entertaining game. We deserved to take the points but unfortunately football is like this. This isn't a fair result."
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