“Smash and grab,” Chris Wilder shouted to a friend as he left the Brighton pitch. But there is more to his Sheffield United team than snatch-and-run.

With this deserved win, which raised them to fifth in the league at close of play, United matched Burnley’s record in 1947-48 of nine top-flight away games unbeaten by a promoted side. Wilder’s chance of making it 10 is questionable. “Have you seen the fixture list,” he asked - meaning Sunday’s visit to Manchester City. Yet the ferocious work ethic that makes them such an appealing team to watch is a challenge for anyone.

Wilder is a marvel of people management and each of his players a model of self-improvement. Oliver McBurnie, who played for Graham Potter at Swansea last season, scored the only goal by bullying Brighton’s two centre-backs and finishing beautifully. David McGoldrick, who missed a sitter and another good chance, was cheered throughout by Sheffield’s fans and then praised by his manager, regardless of his failure to score for the club all season.

“I just said to him - I think he’s just waiting to do it in front of 30,000 supporters instead of 3,000,” Wilder said. “The roof will come off when he does. And he will do. Out of possession, in possession, he’s a really good player: another one we got who was going nowhere, and he’s absolutely fantastic for us.