Romelle Donovan grabbed the winner in time added on to give Sheffield United a 3-2 victory over Bolton at Bramall Lane.

Xavier Simons struck inside the opening minute and Sam Dalby was also on target for the visitors, but United twice hit back to level with goals from Japhet Tanganga and Patrick Bamford before Donovan's dramatic goal secured all three points for Chris Wilder's men.

The visitors got off to a flying start, scoring with only 23 seconds on the clock. Thierry Gale broke down the left and advanced into the area before firing in a shot which was blocked, with Simons seizing on the rebound and hooking the ball into the net.

United responded soon afterwards, levelling in the fourth minute when Sydie Peck's free kick was met by Tanganga, whose far-post header crept just inside Jack Bonham's right-hand post.

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That set the tone for the rest of the half with the home side dominating and going close to taking the lead on several occasions.

Chris Forino came to Bolton's rescue when Bamford looked set to score, producing a superb goal-line clearance to keep the striker's shot out.

Bamford also failed to get a proper connection to a low cross from Ben Brereton-Diaz, screwing his shot wide, while Peck's shot fizzed over the bar and Donovan fired off target.

Bolton went close soon after the re-start when Gale's low shot was touched wide by Michael Cooper. John McAtee also had a chance to put them back in front, shooting a fraction wide.

The visitors regained the lead in the 67th minute when Gale's cross from the left found Dalby, who planted a header past Cooper after getting between two defenders.

Bamford made it 2-2 a minute later, stabbing in from close range after Sam McCallum did well on the left and played the ball across the face of goal.

The home side rode their luck at times with Cooper kept busy as Bolton enjoyed a good spell.

It took an important save from Cooper to keep the scores level, turning McAtee's downward header onto the bar. The keeper also got down smartly to his left to keep out Josh Sheehan's firm drive and then did well to tip over Samuel Iling-Junior's effort from inside the area.

Then, in the third minute of time added on, a ball from Kalvin Phillips picked out Donovan, who strode into the area before beating Bonham with a shot which struck the roof of the net.

The managers

Sheffield United's Chris Wilder:

"That will stay with Rom forever. I am delighted for him because he was outstanding.

"Delighted for the team. It was an end-to-end game. Well, not so much second half. From their point of view, I imagine they're disappointed they've not got a win.

"The heart of the team was huge, one-nil down, 1-1 straight away, 2-1 down, two each. We were on the ropes for a period, second half, we just lost control and lost a bit of the shape of the team as well.

"I think they could sniff it as well, but Michael [Cooper] making some big saves to keep us in it gives us an opportunity of finding that ambition at the end."

Bolton's Steven Schumacher:

"Obviously devastated to lose the game. I felt the way we played, we certainly deserved something from the game. I thought you could argue in the second half we deserved to win the game.

"I thought we were the best team. To have 18 shots on their goal away at Bramall Lane and their goalkeeper to be in top form is pleasing from a performance perspective, but to come away with nothing is, as I say, devastating.

"It's something that this league is like, it's brutal. And us as a team and as a squad, we've got to learn quick.

"We spoke to the players before the game about trying to manage the crowd, I spoke about the song that these play at the start, and it's a brilliant song and gets everyone up for it.

"So, win your first tackle, win your first header, try and take control of the game. And before they'd stop singing the song, we were one-nil up.

"So, it couldn't have been a better start for us, but unfortunately, we didn't stay ahead for long enough. There's a bit of naivety, certainly for the second goal."

What the result means and next fixtures...

• Championship fixtures

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