Jimmy Bullard stepped off the substitutes' bench and fired a stoppage-time winner at Bramall Lane in his first appearance since early October following knee ligament damage.
Tigers striker Jay Simpson followed up his first two goals for Hull last week by firing a first-half double before the Blades, booed off by a section of their fans at half-time, launched a brave fightback after the interval to haul themselves level through two Ched Evans goals.
Simpson's second was converted from the penalty spot after he had been tripped by Blades defender Nyron Nosworthy. The summer signing from Arsenal has responded to criticism in recent weeks by scoring four goals in the Tigers' past two games, but boss Pearson, given money to spend in January by new owners Assem and Ehab Allam, is determined to boost his firepower.
Pearson hopes to complete the signings of Mclean and Fryatt from Peterborough and Leicester respectively early in the new year.
He said: "We're in advanced stages in talks with Aaron Mclean and Matty Fryatt now. We've put a run together so we are seeing some progress now. I think the signs are promising."
Source: PA
Source: PA