Kieffer Moore scored twice as Wrexham came from behind to beat his former club Sheffield United in an eight-goal Championship thriller at the Stok Cae Ras.

Patrick Bamford's volley put United ahead but Wrexham levelled two minutes later courtesy of a Tyler Bindon own goal.

Bamford's second goal and Callum O'Hare's header gave the visitors a 3-1 lead before Moore's header reduced the deficit.

Ryan Longman's header early in the second half made it all square, before Moore put Wrexham ahead for the first time with Josh Windass' penalty sealing the win, ending five games without victory.

Nathan Broadhead and Matty James came in for Wrexham, who were without Lewis O'Brien because of shoulder and knee injuries suffered in the loss at Swansea City, while captain James McClean started a three-game ban following an off-the-ball incident in the same game.

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo retained his place despite a stoppage-time error which had gifted Swansea's winner in the Welsh derby.

Sheffield United, whose boss Chris Wilder selected the same side which had beaten Birmingham City so comprehensively last Saturday at Bramall Lane, showed their intent early on with Sam McCallum's dangerous cross headed wide by Callum O'Hare.

It was another cross, this time from Femi Seriki, which led to the opening goal as Bamford connected with the ball and his volley looped over Okonkwo and into the net.

United's lead lasted barely two minutes as former Sheffield Wednesday forward Windass' shot, from George Thomason's cross, went in off Bindon for Wrexham's leveller.

In what was a very open and frenetic game, the visitors regained their lead with only 15 minutes gone and once again it was Bamford scoring from a Seriki cross.

Moore, who joined Wrexham from United in the summer, had a goalbound header nodded off the line by Ollie Arblaster before the visitors scored their third goal.

McCallum's long throw-in was inadvertently flicked on by Moore towards the direction of O'Hare, who headed home from close range to extend his side's lead.

Moore made amends when he reduced the deficit with a header from Thomason's corner.

The final 15 minutes of the half did not produce any further goals, but there was no let-up in the pace of the game as Wrexham penalty appeals for handball were rejected, while at the other end Okonkwo denied Tahith Chong.

Wrexham were level six minutes into the second half with Longman heading home from Thomason's cross.

Windass' powerful shot soon after drew a good save from Michael Copper, with Broadhead putting the rebound wide.

Broadhead set up his Wales international colleague Moore, who put Wrexham ahead for the first time with 14 minutes remaining.

Okonkwo made a crucial save to deny Arblaster before Windass sealed the comeback with a penalty, sending Cooper the wrong way after Thomason had been felled by Bindon.

Substitute Tyrese Campbell's volley hit the underside of the crossbar in stoppage time, the last act of an extraordinary game.

When Wrexham – then a National League side - hosted Sheffield United in an FA Cup fourth-round tie in January 2023, it produced a pulsating, incident-packed contest which ended in a 3-3 draw.

Nearly three years on and the clubs locked horns once again – this time in the Championship – and Friday's meeting gave us another epic, breathless encounter.

Backed by Hollywood owners, Wrexham's three successive promotions ensured a return to English football's second tier for the first time in 43 years and Phil Parkinson's men have more than held their own so far this campaign.

But they came into this Boxing Day game against the Blades at the Stok Cae Ras without a win in five games and with Parkinson calling on Wrexham to replicate the spirit of those FA Cup encounters against the Blades.

They certainly did that in this post-Christmas feast, coming back from 3-1 down to win 5-3. Wrexham, under Parkinson, never know when they are beaten.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:

"Bravery and character comes in many forms. You need to show it when you're losing at home, coming on the back of a defeat last Friday and I think the lads showed that really well tonight. There were some really good performances from us.

"Obviously, we're pleased. We didn't get too down after Swansea, which is hard not to when you lose a game like that. We're not going to get too high with tonight, but we're going to enjoy the moment as well because that was us in periods of the game, right at our best.

"It reminded me a bit of the Coventry game, if you remember we were down in that. It was a similar feel to it, even though someone just asked me about how I did I feel when you're 3-1 down. If you're getting beaten and people aren't passing the ball properly or we're making poor decisions and not having a method to get back in it, you're frustrated, but that wasn't the case."

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:

"We knew that they'd come out and it was an energetic start from them - home crowd, Boxing Day and everything that goes with that. Quieting the crowd, which we did, in terms of getting the first goal and then getting a foothold in the game.

"Their first goal, from our point of view, is a really poor one. We just have to defend the back stick better than what we did. And then the second goal, for me, has decided the journey of the game, in my opinion.

"We never really dealt with their front three really, especially second half. We come away with a tough result and I've got to say, fully deserved by the opposition."