Jamie Ward pounced deep into injury time to earn 10-man Sheffield United a vital victory over relegation-threatened Southampton at St Mary's.

Andrew Surman appeared to have earned the Saints a precious point when he notched a 90th-minute equaliser but Ward, a recent signing from League Two Chesterfield, claimed his first goal for the club to stun the hosts.

Greg Halford had scored his first league goal for more than five months to put the promotion-chasing Blades on the way to victory.

Halford, on a season-long loan from Sunderland, headed home Nick Montgomery's cross in the 35th minute, scoring in the Coca-Cola Championship for the first time since his effort in a 3-1 win at Blackpool in August.

But the Blades suffered a setback when striker Darius Henderson was sent off five minutes before the break after clashing with Jan Paul Saeijs - his second dismissal of the season.

Southampton dominated the second half and created numerous chances but found Paddy Kenny in fine form, the Blades goalkeeper pulling off a string of fine saves.

Surman finally broke the Blades' resistance at the death but there was still enough time for Ward to steal it for the visitors.

The win cemented the Blades' place in the top six while Southampton remain three points adrift of safety.

Southampton, who have now won just one of their 16 home games in the Coca-Cola Championship this season, made a promising start and came close to taking the lead inside four minutes.

Young striker David McGoldrick fired in a shot which Kenny pushed away for a corner and, from the resulting set-piece, experienced defender Chris Perry lifted his effort over the crossbar.

A minute later another move ended with Adam Lallana seeing his shot blocked by defender Matthew Kilgallon before Henderson, with two goals in his last four league outings, drilled a shot wide from 20 yards. Brian Howard was also off target as the Blades began to get into the game.

The home side created another opening after 15 minutes although Poland international Marek Saganowski, who has banged in four goals in his last three games, failed to force Kenny into action.

However, the visitors went in front in the 35th minute through Halford before Henderson saw red.

Southampton head coach Mark Wotte made a change at half-time with Bradley Wright-Phillips replacing Simon Gillett.

The move nearly paid off immediately as Wright-Phillips smashed a shot from 25 yards which Kenny parried and from the corner Saganowski headed Lallana's delivery over the bar.

The home side were now on top and Saeijs and Saganowski forced Kenny into saves in quick succession and the Pole also blazed a shot wide as they searched for the equaliser.

It was all one-way traffic and Kenny had to be at his best to keep his side ahead, his next save thwarting McGoldrick from the edge of the penalty area in the 65th minute.

Danny Webber fired a shot wide for the Blades but back came Southampton and after Surman was foiled by Kenny, Jason Euell should have done better than to blast an effort off target.

The Saints were doing everything they possibly could to get back on terms but McGoldrick, Wright-Phillips and Lallana also fired shots off target before more heroics from Kenny kept out Euell.

But no-one could have predicted the late drama which followed.

Teams

Southampton Davis, James, Saeijs, Perry, Surman, Lallana,Wotton (Schneiderlin 77), Gillett (Wright-Phillips 46),McLaggon (Euell 67), Saganowski, McGoldrick.

Subs Not Used: Forecast, Lancashire.

Booked: Saeijs, Perry, Schneiderlin.

Goals: Surman 90.

Sheff Utd Kenny, Halford, Bromby, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Howard,Montgomery, Naughton, Quinn, Henderson, Webber (Ward 86).

Subs Not Used: Cotterill, Hendrie, Jihai, Sharp.

Sent Off: Henderson (40).

Goals: Halford 35, Ward 90.

Att: 13,257

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).