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Sheffield United made it four wins in succession and kept up the pressure on the top two in the Championship with a 2-1 victory over South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley at Bramall Lane.

Late goals from John Joe O'Toole and Arturo Lupoli decided a typically feisty derby, although there was still time for Barnsley to miss a penalty and score a consolation through Daniel Bogdanovic.

O'Toole, on loan from Watford, bundled home his first goal for the club in the 81st minute to keep the Blades' automatic promotion hopes alive and Arsenal striker Lupoli slid home the clincher six minutes later.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce's last-minute spot-kick was saved by United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny - he also missed one against Nottingham Forest on Saturday - before Maltese substitute Bogdanovic pulled one back in a thrilling finish.

Both managers and their benches were forced apart by police as the derby clash threatened to get out of control in the closing stages.

Defeat for Barnsley - their second in six matches - leaves the Tykes perilously close to the relegation zone and they face another late scramble to avoid the drop.

Centre-half Jan-Paul Saeijs hit a sensational last-minute equaliser as Southampton claimed a vital point in a 2-2 draw at Watford in their fight against relegation.

The Dutchman headed Saints ahead early on but goals in either half from Aleksandrs Cauna and Tamas Priskin looked to have sent his side closer to the drop.

But Saeijs then stepped up from 25 yards and arced a fabulous free-kick over the wall and into the top corner to end a turbulent day for the south coast club on a high.

Confusion lingers over the club's immediate fate after the Football League called for an independent report into their financial position earlier in the day, but Saints remain confident of avoiding the seemingly mandatory 10-point deduction for entering administration.

However, unless manager Mark Wotte can inspire his young side to a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, any penalty could prove academic for the club's survival chances this season.

Southampton are still two points adrift of safety with five games left and seem set to be plying their trade in League One - if at all - come August.

Teenage winger Kieron Cadogan scored on his debut to earn Crystal Palace a point in a 1-1 draw against Coventry.

The latest graduate from Palace's prolific academy had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes when he pounced on a defensive mistake, rounded City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and tucked the ball into the net.

Aron Gunnarsson had given Coventry a first-half lead, but the Icelandic midfielder missed two clear-cut opportunities after the break and was made to pay by the rookie substitute.

Sporting Life / Eurosport