A turbulent few days for Sheffield United ended in sheer delight for manager Neil Warnock as the Blades snatched a last-gasp victory to further dent Millwall's play-off dreams.

Peter Ndlovu was the hero with a breathtaking brace in the dying moments when it looked as if goals in either half from Lions' Paul Ifill and captain Stuart Nethercott seemed destined to pile on the agony for Warnock.

Unlike Saturday's 'Battle of Bramall Lane' against West Brom, United ended the full 90 minutes with 11 players on the pitch as Nottingham referee Frazer Stretton was rarely troubled.

At least Warnock took to his dugout before kick-off a vindicated man courtesy of the comments of Eddie Wolstenholme, the referee forced to abandon the clash against Albion after 82 minutes - and with the Baggies leading 3-0 - as the Blades were down to six fit players.

Wolstenholme had already red-carded Simon Tracey, Georges Santos and Patrick Suffo, before both Michael Brown and Rob Ullathorne sustained injuries at a time when Warnock had used his three substitutes.

Albion boss Gary Megson made serious allegations after the game, claiming one person in the Sheffield United dugout had told his players to feign injury in a bid to get the match called off.

Wolstenholme, however, has not cited Warnock in his match report, which means the United manager will escape any potential sanctions by the FA which could have seriously threatened his career.

Unsurprisingly, there was no Santos, sent off for a disgraceful, revenge-filled, two-footed lunge on Andy Johnson, the player who shattered the Frenchman's eye socket in a game at Bramall Lane last season while playing for Nottingham Forest.

There was also no Suffo, who head-butted Derek McInnes, with both players having been told by Warnock they will never kick another ball for the club again, while the injured Brown and Ullathorne were also sidelined.

This was a game destined to pass off without incident, at least in terms of the like which brought football into disrepute at the weekend, for the finale was dramatic.

In many respects there was a certain morbid fascination for this game, akin to witnessing an accident and then turning up at the same scene the following day to see if lightning will strike twice.

At least the programme provided a touch of comic relief - and timing - to be filed under the strapline: You couldn't make it up!

The two players going head-to-head in a question-and-answer section entitled Take Five - again strange but true - were Santos and Suffo, with one of the teasers for the latter being: A challenge with which player caused Georges' serious injury last season?

Cameroon international Suffo at least knew it was Johnson, but could not remember the player's first name, although he is unlikely to forget now after what happened on Saturday.

The programme also had no qualms in pre-empting the outcome of Thursday's Football League meeting at which it will be decided whether the result stands or if a replay will be ordered.

Warnock and Blades chairman Derek Dooley have both stated Albion should be given the three points, and the league table in the programme agreed, with West Brom out on their own in third with 70, unlike the 67 they currently possess.

However, there is still no guarantee United will not be deducted points when the Football Association conclude their inquiry into the distasteful events on Saturday.

It meant the Blades, seemingly comfortable so far as they lie in mid-table on 53, had to gain something from this clash with play-off chasing Millwall, and they did so in remarkable fashion.

They were unlucky to trail at the break to Ifill's third goal of the season, a 29th minute header which sandwiched Steven Reid striking his own post from 18 yards, and Paul Peschisolido cracking a header against the bar from close range.

Their equaliser was deserved when Michael Tonge rifled home a 12-yard drive, but their joy was short-lived when Nethercott headed home the Lions' second go-ahead goal five minutes later.

United looked down and out until Ndlovu turned sharply to rifle into the roof of the net in the 88th minute, and then two minutes later he pounced to end a mad goalmouth scramble.

Again, you could not make it up!

Teams

Sheff Utd: Tracey, Uhlenbeek, Nicholson, Page, Curle, Javary, Jagielka, Tonge (Smith 85), Ndlovu, Peschisolido (D'Jaffo 78), Lovell (Montgomery 77).

Subs Not Used: Sandford, de Vogt.

Booked: Peschisolido.

Goals: Tonge 68, Ndlovu 88, 90.

Millwall: Warner, Reid, Bull, Cahill, Dyche, Nethercott, Livermore, Kinet, Ifill, Claridge, McPhail (Dunne 67).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Braniff, Hearn, Gueret.

Goals: Ifill 29, Nethercott 73.

Att: 16,037

Ref: F Stretton (Nottingham).