Credit: Wrexham AFC YouTube
Imagine this: on Boxing Day, in the crisp fresh air, Kieffer Moore. The Welsh striker with something to prove steps onto the pitch in North Wales to face his former club, Sheffield United, as Wrexham lie in wait. Had Moore made any Christmas wishes, silencing the critics at Bramall Lane would surely have topped the list. And how he delivered.
With two emphatic goals, Moore reminded everyone why Chris Wilder once brought him to United. Had he remained at the club during that turbulent summer, they would have fought tooth and nail to keep him. These goals were about far more than the numbers on the scoreboard – they were a resounding answer to the Sheffield fans who had never fully embraced him.
Key moments from the past
Some Blades fans may still shudder at the memory of Moore’s final appearance in their colours – a misplaced pass in the play-off final just before Tommy Watson’s winning goal for Sunderland. But on that gloomy evening in Wrexham, Moore banished the ghosts of the past. United astonishingly squandered a 3-1 lead and fell to a 5-3 defeat, with Moore netting his 12th goal of the season. When compared to United’s all-time top scorer Callum O’Hare, who has featured in just six matches, the scale of their collapse becomes clear.
Moore was beaming with pure joy as he struck in both halves. First came a powerful header from a corner, left completely unmarked. Then followed a lightning-fast shot into the top corner after yet another Wrexham defensive lapse. The stadium pulsed with a mix of shock and admiration – an outcome few had foreseen.
Moore’s honest opinion
After the final whistle, Moore spoke candidly. “Every time we went forward, it felt like we were going to score,” he smiled, reflecting on the contest. “We gave it everything, attacked with intent, and I was delighted to score twice against my old club.” His manager, Phil Parkinson, was quick to dismiss any suggestion of revenge or added tension against United. Moore, however, was frank. “Yeah, sure,” he admitted with a grin when asked if it felt personal.
Football, he reflected, is a strange game—criticism and praise come in waves, and you simply have to ride them out. “You can’t let harsh words affect you, or praise go to your head,” he said calmly. “I’m honestly delighted with myself. Let them say what they want—I’ll keep talking on the pitch.”
Respect for the Blades remains
Despite United’s painful defeat, Moore has not lost respect for his former club or Wilder.
“I knew what would happen when they brought Chris back,”
he said, acknowledging their recent form. The Blades have been racking up victories, dispatching teams by three or four goals.
“We were expecting a real battle tonight, so this win feels massive,” Moore continued. When asked whether Wilder could guide United back to the top, his response was immediate. “Oh, without a doubt.”
He also paid tribute to Wilder and the coaching staff. “He, Neely—Alan Neely—and Matt Prestridge—they’re first-class people,” he said warmly. “I wish them nothing but success.” Whatever you say, a 5-3 comeback is pure footballing magic—catching everyone off guard in the best possible way.
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