Sheffield United 3-2 Bolton Wanderers: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Championship Matchday 4 · Tuesday 1 September 2026 · Bramall Lane, Sheffield · referee T. Harrington · full time
Full time: Sheffield United 3-2 Bolton Wanderers
Sheffield United 3-2 Bolton Wanderers: Sheffield United took the points in Championship Matchday 4 on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at Bramall Lane. The goals: Xavier Simons 1', Japhet Tanganga 4', Sam Dalby 67', Patrick Bamford 68', Romelle Donovan 90+3'.
How Sheffield United won it
The opening goal came in the 1st minute: Xavier Simons for Bolton Wanderers. Sheffield United levelled at 1-1 in the 4th minute through Japhet Tanganga, set up by Sydie Peck. Sam Dalby made it 1-2 to Bolton Wanderers in the 67th minute, set up by Thierry Gale. Sheffield United levelled at 2-2 in the 68th minute through Patrick Bamford, set up by Sam McCallum. Sheffield United turned it round: Romelle Donovan made it 3-2 in the 90th minute (+3), set up by Kalvin Phillips . A late goal, and the one that decided the result.
It was 1-1 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
The lead changed hands once.
The referee, T. Harrington, showed 3 yellow cards: 1 to Sheffield United and 2 to Bolton Wanderers.
Sheffield United: C. Wilder, 4-4-2 · Bolton Wanderers: S. Schumacher, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 2.21 for Sheffield United and 2.25 for Bolton Wanderers.
Sheffield United had 5 shots on target, Bolton Wanderers 6.
Sheffield United had 53% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Sheffield United came into it with 12 Championship matches played, scoring 1.3 and conceding 1.3 a match, with 1.29 expected goals for and 1.56 against, and had won 33% of their matches.
Bolton Wanderers came into it with 12 Championship matches played, scoring 1.3 and conceding 1.9 a match, with 1.37 expected goals for and 2.00 against, and had won 33% of their matches.
Sheffield United vs Bolton Wanderers: the match in numbers
| Sheffield United | Match statistics | Bolton Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
| 53% | Ball possession | 47% |
| 2.21 | Expected goals (xG) | 2.25 |
| 13 | Total shots | 18 |
| 5 | Shots on target | 6 |
| 3 | Big chances | 3 |
| 443 | Total passes | 390 |
| 78% | Pass accuracy | 77% |
| 5 | Corners | 5 |
| 8 | Fouls | 13 |
| 3 | Offsides | 2 |
| 18 | Tackles | 23 |
| 4 | Saves | 1 |
| 0 | Yellow cards | 2 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Chris Forino (Bolton Wanderers), rated 7.8 by Sportmonks.
Sheffield United
- Romelle Donovan 7.4 1 goal
- Sam McCallum 7.4 1 assist
- Patrick Bamford 7.3 1 goal
- Sydie Peck 7.1 1 assist
- Michael Cooper 7.0
Bolton Wanderers
- Chris Forino 7.8
- Xavier Simons 7.3 1 goal
- Thierry Gale 7.3 1 assist
- Sam Dalby 7.3 1 goal
- Samuel Iling-Junior 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Jack Bonham at 5.7. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Sheffield United: Sheffield United vs Wrexham Friday 30 October 2026 · Championship
- Bolton Wanderers: Bolton Wanderers vs Bristol City Saturday 31 October 2026 · Championship
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Sheffield United vs Bolton Wanderers
What was the score in Sheffield United vs Bolton Wanderers?
Sheffield United 3-2 Bolton Wanderers (half-time 1-1), Championship, Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Who scored in Sheffield United vs Bolton Wanderers?
Xavier Simons 1', Japhet Tanganga 4', Sam Dalby 67', Patrick Bamford 68', Romelle Donovan 90+3'.
Did Moneyball predict Sheffield United vs Bolton Wanderers correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Sheffield United vs Bolton Wanderers?
Chris Forino, rated 7.8 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Sheffield United vs Bolton Wanderers?
T. Harrington.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.