Darius Henderson smashed home a hat-trick - including a last-gasp winner - in a thrilling encounter at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

It looked as though United had surrendered a 2-0 lead when Alvaro Saborio netted a leveller in injury-time but Henderson secured hero status with a winner after the five minutes of added time had elapsed.

The goal not only secured three points but also ended an 11-month unbeaten home record for City.

Goalkeeper Ikeme was handed his debut after signing on loan from Wolves, whilst chief Blackwell made two other changes with Montgomery and Henderson returning. Bunn, Camara and Evans were the players to make way with the latter reportedly struggling for full fitness due to a midweek injury problem. There was no place in the 18 for new loan defender Kallio with United up to the loan limit of five in the matchday squad.

The personnel selected suggested a 4-5-1 formation and that proved to be the case in the initial exchanges with Ward and Quinn supporting Henderson from the wide areas and Williamson the most advanced of the central midfielders.

City applied the early pressure, particularly down their right flank, but they were limited to a number of long range efforts. Haynes twice fired wide and Elliott half volleyed into the arms of Ikeme. Williamson, Ward and Walker combined but United's first foray into the home box came to nothing.

Henderson's first timer was blocked by Hartley, whilst, on 19 minutes, a neat move saw Quinn's delivery headed down and into the path of Ward, whose left-footed effort was held at the second attempt by Gerken.

United then won three corners on the bounce before City were hit with a double salvo, although the first, on the half-hour, courted controversy. From Ward's cross, Gerken could only punch away with Williamson close by but the ball dropped to HENDERSON, who had a steadying touch before firing home. Then followed a moment of uncertainty when one of the assistants had a flag raised, presumably for a Blades player in an offside position, but after a conversation with referee Hall, the goal was allowed to stand.

Johnson's prolonged protestation earned him a booking but worse was to follow for the home side soon after when United added a second. McCombe, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, fluffed his clearance and Ward picked up the loose ball and laid off for an unmarked HENDERSON to coolly slide home.

Shell-shocked, City did attempt to fight back. Ikeme was forced into two saves, the first from a McCombe header and then dropping to his left to keep out an Elliott shot.

City's pressure continued until the break. United's loan goalkeeper dropped a cross in difficult circumstances but, fortunately, Haynes could only fire into the sidenetting. The home side's best chance of the half arrived on 44 minutes, Hartley's pass put Haynes in the clear but he slipped at a vital moment and his lay off to Sno was cut out by Harper.

After weathering the storm at the end of the first period, the Blades were also on the back foot at the start of the second half when Sno's chip over the defence found Johnson but Ikeme was quickly off his line to block.

There was a chance to put the game out of City's reach when Henderson attempted to return the favour to Ward but his square ball was over hit and resulted in Williamson shooting wide. The home side took advantage to reduce the arrears with the next move when Morgan was adjudged to have fouled Haynes on 53 minutes and from Hartley's inswinging free-kick CAREY beat Davies in the air to head home.

Ward and Walker picked up bookings, apparently for time-wasting, before Ikeme came to the rescue on 57 minutes. A flick on by Haynes beat both of United's central defenders and found Maynard in the clear but the striker's shot was kicked away by the United goalkeeper.

Williamson, ill in the week, was the first to be replaced, with Stewart introduced on the left and Quinn moving inside but City's attacks continued. On 66 minutes defender Carey appeared on the right flank and his deep cross picked out Haynes but again the striker was thwarted by another save from Ikeme.

A powerful Maynard shot was blocked by the head of Davies, who needed treatment and there was respite, on 78 minutes, when Carey was booked for a late challenge on Ward.
Henderson and McAllister followed the City captain into the book after a tussle, whilst home boss Johnson used all his substitutes to freshen up his attacking approach.

United remained on the defensive in the closing stages but looked comfortable in dealing with City's assaults, whilst Reid was introduced as a late replacement for Ward. Stewart and Sproule were booked for a tussle, which ensued near a corner flag.

Five minutes of added time gave the home fans fresh impetus and their long balls into the box were repelled... until the final minute of the extra. The ball was hacked into the box and appeared to be trapped under the feet of Fortune before SABORIO took control and placed into the corner.

The goal was gutting, Kilgallon questioned about of time added, but there was still time for the Blades to mount one more attack and how decisive it proved to be.

Well over the five minutes of added time had elapsed when Reid, positioned centrally, saw his shot at the edge of the box blocked. But the ball fell for HENDERSON, who kept his cool and fired across and under the body of Gerken, before heading off to celebrate in front of 807 ecstatic travelling fans.

Bristol City: Gerken, Skuse (Sproule 76), McCombe, Carey, McAllister (Fontaine 88), Hartley, Elliott, Johnson, Sno (Saborio 84), Haynes, Maynard.
Unused: Clarkson, Williams, S. Henderson, Nyatanga.

Blades: Ikeme, Montgomery, Morgan, Kilgallon, Henderson, Williamson (Stewart 60), Harper (Fortune 90), Ward (Reid 88), Davies, Quinn, Walker.
Unused: France, Evans, Taylor, Bunn.