Kieffer Moore scored twice against his old club as Wrexham recovered from a 3-1 deficit to beat Sheffield United 5-3 in a thrilling Boxing Day game at Stock Caellas.
The Blades looked set to steal the headlines with an early double from Patrick Bamford, but the hosts rallied to claim their first victory in six Sky Bet Championship games.
Bamford, whose short-term contract was due to expire on New Year’s Day, put himself firmly in the shop window with a goal across from Tyler Bindon’s own goal.
Callum O’Hare added a third for Chris Wilder’s side, but Moore responded for Wrexham and Ryan Longman equalized.
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Wrexham showed great team spirit to fight back from a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United, with Kieffer Moore’s powerful finish capping off an unlikely comeback.
Moore took the lead for the first time and a Josh Windass penalty completed the fightback.
O’Hare narrowly missed the target from Sam McCullum’s cross, and it looked like it was going to be an eventful match from the start.
Just seven minutes later, Bamford fired home with a deft touch. Femi Seriki crossed from the right and the former Leeds striker stuck his foot out and looped a volley over Arthur Okonkwo and home at the far post.
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Patrick Bamford’s brilliant improvisation gave Sheffield United the lead against Wrexham.
Wrexham burst onto the field and reacted immediately when George Thomason sent a dangerous low ball into the area. As Windass retreated from the far post, the ball was deflected to Bindon.
The visitors regained the lead 15 minutes later when Seriki curled in another awkward cross. This time Bamford got in front of two defenders and scored.
Callum Doyle headed Oliver Arbruster off the goal line and Wrexham came close to leveling the score, but the Blades soon made it 3-1 from a long throw-in. Moore carelessly flicked the ball past his own goal, and O’Hare powered forward and headed it home.
Moore scored a powerful header at the other end and rose to meet Thomason’s corner kick to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 28 minutes remaining.
There could have been more goals before the break but Okonkwo kept saves from Bamford and Tahith Chong.
Wrexham also had two penalty appeals dismissed. In the first attempt, the ball grazed Arbruster’s hand as he raised his arm to signal offside, but fortunately Arbruster’s flag went up as well. The second time, it was ruled that the ball hit him in the chest.
The home team equalized seven minutes into the second half when Thomason’s pinpoint cross was headed in by Longman.
Gustavo Harmer’s fierce free-kick was saved by Okonkwo at the other end, but Wrexham began to take the lead as Windass tested Michael Cooper and Arbruster went off his line in a packed area.
The pressure paid off and Moore struck again with 14 minutes remaining, diving on Nathan Broadhead’s ball and firing past Cooper.
After Thomason was adjudged to have been taken down by Harrison Burrows, Windass converted from the spot and the victory was secured five minutes later.
United almost got a consolation late in the game when Tyrese Campbell hit the bar.
managers
Phil Parkinson of Wrexham:
“It was a strange game! Even at half-time I thought we had scored and played reasonably well. We could have done better, but the two goals we scored were good moves from Bamford.”
“We always felt we had a chance. We got back into the game well and just had to defend better in the box. That was the case in the second half as well. The moment came and it was a great win for us.”
“Our front three were great and worked hard for the team. I’m very happy that Keefer got his two goals and Josh’s first finish was obviously great. Brodie looked like he could create something for us all night.”
“Then we had George Thomason, playing wing-back for the first time, and he looked outstanding for us.”
Chris Wilder of Sheffield United:
“At any level of football you can’t concede five goals and expect a result. It’s all self-inflicted and from our point of view the goal was really poor.”
“We couldn’t handle their front three. Kiefer is doing what he’s supposed to do. We couldn’t handle it.
“We came away from home and didn’t get what we wanted. No excuses. Focus on ourselves, reset, dust ourselves off and go again. We just have to defend ourselves better.”
