Derby scored twice in stoppage time to secure the most remarkable and undeserved point imaginable at Pride Park today.

The Rams looked to be down and out when Simon Donnelly scored in the 89th minute to put Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 up.

But Craig Burley's first goal for the club, firing home from close range after Branko Strupar's header had been cleared off the line by Ian Nolan, gave Derby hope.

And in the 92nd minute the home fans who had not left early in disgust at their side's poor performance were celebrating an unlikely draw when Malcolm Christie bundled the ball home after a melee.

Dean Sturridge's shot was only parried by Pavel Srnicek and after the ball was turned back into the six-yard box, Christie - with his third goal in only his second start - pounced despite the efforts of two Owls defenders on the line.

Wednesday, and their 3,500 supporters, were stunned after giving a display which merited the three points they looked like securing for so long.

Given the lead by Gilles De Bilde's header on 21 minutes, Gerald Sibon scored a brilliant volley midway through the second half to double their advantage.

Dutch striker Sibon has won few friends in South Yorkshire with a string of poor performances since his £2million summer move from Ajax.

But he made his critics eat their words after with his fourth goal of the season, producing a volley which scorched past a stationary Mart Poom and into his top corner.

Strupar pulled one back 19 minutes from time, heading home sub Georgi Kinkladze's cross, and a Rams onslaught ensued.

Srnicek did well to save the Belgian international's free-kick and from the resulting corner the former Genk star headed against a post.

Christie and Steve Elliott also went close with headers, while Seth Johnson's drive was deflected just wide.

Sturridge should have scored instead of firing wide immediately before Donnelly hit home his first goal for the Owls.

But just as the Derby fans headed for the exits, their team stunned Wednesday with their late, late show.

Both clubs are still deep in trouble, especially after Bradford provided one of the shocks of the season by defeating Arsenal today.

But the Rams are unbeaten in five games now and they will take more heart from this match than Wednesday, given the way they fought back.

Danny Wilson was a shock choice as January's Premiership manager of the month - and none seemed more surprised than the Owls boss himself.

The curse of the award seemed to strike on Wednesday, when his side lost to Manchester United, but they bounced back in impressive style today.

Had they played like this all season, the Owls would not have any relegation worries at all and they would still be in the FA Cup if they had given a similar performance at Gillingham last Saturday.

But the memories of that game, as well as the midweek defeat, were put firmly to the back of their minds as they tore into Derby from the off.

The Rams' home record is the worst in the Premiership and without key men Darryl Powell and Horacio Carbonari, their soft underbelly was ruthlessly exposed.

Indeed, they were fortunate to be just the one goal behind at the interval, with Poom making a handful of fine saves and Wednesday's finishing letting them down.

Certainly the 60 or so Genk fans who had travelled to watch Strupar, who used to play for their club in Belgium, could have been forgiven for thinking the Owls were riding high in the Premiership.

With Wim Jonk pulling the strings in midfield, they exercised total control and their only weakness - save their profligacy in front of goal - seemed to be the erratic behaviour of Pavel Srnicek.

He made one good save to foil Strupar but his only other worrying moment came when, under no pressure, he appeared to handle the ball outside his area.

Referee David Elleray waved play on but Srnicek's clearance fell at the feet of Stefano Eranio 40 yards out, though the Italian's shot was going just wide before the keeper got his hand to it.

But that aside the first half was all Wednesday, with Niclas Alexandersson and Sibon both going close with headers inside three minutes.

Jonk should have scored when he got on the end of Nolan's cross 12 yards out only to head too close to Poom, while the Derby keeper did well to deny Alan Quinn - who beat three defenders in a superb run - and Sibon.

He could do nothing about De Bilde's header, the striker grabbing his eighth goal for the club when he got on the end of Andy Hinchcliffe's cross.

The game followed a similar pattern in the second half and it was only Strupar's goal which sparked the Rams into life.

Even then Donnelly seemed to kill off the match as a contest, only for Wednesday to self-destruct and Derby to rob them of two points which could prove crucial come May.

Teams

Derby: Poom, Laursen, Schnoor, Elliott, Delap, Burley, Eranio (Kinkladze 61), Johnson, Dorigo (Sturridge 72), Strupar, Christie.

Subs Not Used: Burton, Prior, Oakes.

Goals: Strupar 71, Burley 90, Christie 90.

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Nolan, Walker, Atherton, Hinchcliffe, Haslam, Jonk (Sonner 76), Alexandersson (Scott 57), Quinn, De Bilde (Donnelly 82), Sibon.

Subs Not Used: Pressman, Cresswell.

Goals: De Bilde 22, Sibon 68, Donnelly 89.

Att: 30,100

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).