Sheffield United won for the first time in six months by coming out on top in a five-goal thriller at Bristol Rovers to reach the FA Cup fourth round.
The Premier League’s bottom side led when Lys Mousset’s header hit the bar and went in off Rovers keeper Joe Day.
A towering Alfie Kilgour header drew League One Rovers level by half-time – but United substitute Oliver Burke ran clear and slotted in on the hour.
Max Ehmer restored parity but Jayden Bogle ended a slick move to win it.
The three second-half goals came in just four minutes, with Burke’s calm finish and Ehmer’s back-post equaliser followed by Bogle’s well-timed run into the area to notch his second goal in four matches since joining from Derby in December.
It ended a dismal run of form for United – whose last win in a competitive fixture was on 11 July, when they beat Chelsea in the Premier League.
United’s winless run stretched to 21 matches in total, and so Wilder’s 100th victory as their manager will provide some much-needed relief.
Wilder’s side are without a clean sheet in 22 games – their longest run without a shutout since 1998 – but his assertion that this game was “huge because of the situation we are in” rubbed off on his players as they started quickly.
Mousset leapt to smartly head against the bar, prompting Day’s unfortunate own goal. While Kilgour’s powerful header levelled, Wilder’s side were on top and had a second Mousset goal ruled out for a debatable foul by John Egan in the build-up.
John Lundstram saw a shot tipped over after half-time but six minutes after coming on, Burke raced clear and slid in a finish at the near post – his first goal for the club since signing from West Bromwich Albion in September.
Ehmer turned home Luke Leahy’s near-post flick on but Burke’s clever dummy allowed Bogle to roll in coolly from six yards.
Burke hit the post and the impressive Ben Osborn went close to adding a fourth on a day where Wilder’s side had 22 shots and more than deserved this key win and a place in Monday’s fourth-round draw.
Up next?
Sheffield United host Newcastle in the Premier League on Tuesday (18:00 GMT) and Bristol Rovers play AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy on the same night (19:00).
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 13Day
- 5Ehmer
- 15Kilgour
- 26Baldwin
- 3LeahyBooked at 60mins
- 8Westbrooke
- 6UpsonSubstituted forRodmanat 80′minutes
- 41OztumerSubstituted forGrantat 60′minutes
- 14McCormick
- 9Hanlan
- 21AyungaSubstituted forBarrettat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 1van Stappershoef
- 2Little
- 4Grant
- 18Kelly
- 20Hargreaves
- 25Harries
- 33Rodman
- 39Barrett
- 47Koiki
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Ramsdale
- 6Basham
- 12Egan
- 22Ampadu
- 20Bogle
- 7LundstramSubstituted forBryanat 74′minutes
- 16Norwood
- 4FleckSubstituted forLoweat 86′minutes
- 23Osborn
- 17McGoldrick
- 11MoussetSubstituted forBurkeat 53′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Sharp
- 13Lowe
- 14Burke
- 15Jagielka
- 21Verrips
- 24Brewster
- 29Bryan
- 33Gordon
Live Text
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by John Egan.
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Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Sheffield United 3.
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Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Sheffield United 3.
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Foul by Oliver Burke (Sheffield United).
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Jack Baldwin (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Luke McCormick (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Rodman.
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Ethan Ampadu (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Josh Barrett (Bristol Rovers).
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Foul by Kean Bryan (Sheffield United).
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Brandon Hanlan (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) right footed shot from long range on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Ethan Ampadu.
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Substitution, Sheffield United. Max Lowe replaces John Fleck.
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Jayden Bogle (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alex Rodman (Bristol Rovers).
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Attempt missed. Alex Rodman (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josh Barrett.
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Attempt blocked. Jack Baldwin (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Oliver Burke (Sheffield United).
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Alfie Kilgour (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Bristol Rovers. Luke Leahy tries a through ball, but Alex Rodman is caught offside.
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Offside, Sheffield United. John Egan tries a through ball, but Oliver Burke is caught offside.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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