Midlands rivals West Brom and Derby County produced a grandstand finish at a rain and gale-lashed Hawthorns where two goals in a pulsating final five minutes ensured the points were shared.

On-loan Portuguese midfielder Candido Costa had netted for Derby with five minutes remaining but Thomas Gaardsoe spared the Baggies' Boxing Day blushes with a 90th-minute headed equaliser.

And the Rams had fired their first shot across the hosts bows in the eighth minute when Lee Morris, stationed out on the left wing, jinked away from Sean Gregan.

Bernt Haas was the next Albion defender left for dead before a near-post cross caught Baggies keeper Russell Hoult in two minds and Lee Bradbury wheedled his way into the six-yard box only to divert the ball narrowly wide.

Next a superb Rams move saw Tom Huddlestone, the 16-year-old midfielder, link up for a one-two with Bradbury before a cheeky backheel set up Morris 18 yards out only for the eventual shot to be deflected harmlessly wide by Haas.

Marcus Tudgay exposed more Albion defensive laxity just after the quarter-hour as he rose unchallenged to head into the arms of Hoult from Luciano Zavagno's cross before Albion went close to netting against the run of play after a subdued Jason Koumas had sparked momentarily into life and worked the ball to Lee Hughes.

Haas, having moved forward from the back, got a lay-off but Lee Grant produced a courageous save at point-blank range.

And there were to be heroics at the other end too as Hoult fingertipped wide a lob from Rams skipper Ian Taylor before a stunning save left Tudgay frustrated with the Rams front-man's bullet header having been re-directed over the bar.

Baggies boss Gary Megson shuffled his pack with less than 10 minutes gone in the second half as Rob Hulse replaced Hughes and Artim Sakiri was brought on for James O'Connor, but it was Hoult who remained in the thick of the action as another fine save was needed following a shot from Morris moments after the hour.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Haas put Zavagno on his backside and delivered a pin-point cross to the back post where Hulse had lost his marker but also his bearings too and could only head marginally wide of a relieved Grant's woodwork.

And Baggies hero Hoult came to his side's rescue again moments later when Zavagno saw a six-yard effort blocked by an outstretched right boot.

But the Rams were not to be denied and after a Morris penalty appeal had fallen on deaf ears, Costa, the Portuguese Under-21 international on loan from FC Porto until the end of the season, pounced on the loose ball and drilled a low 18-yard effort under Hoult.

Then, as time for a comeback appeared to have run out, Koumas swung a left-wing corner deep to the back post where Hulse headed back into the danger area and Gaardsoe converted from point-blank range.

Teams:

West Brom Hoult, Robinson, Gaardsoe, Gregan, Gilchrist, Haas, O'Connor (Sakiri 53), Johnson, Koumas, Hughes (Hulse 53), Horsfield (Dobie 79).

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Moore.

Goals: Gaardsoe 90.

Derby Grant, Zavagno, Johnson, Mawene, Jackson, Bolder, Taylor, Huddlestone, Morris, Bradbury, Tudgay (Costa 67).

Subs Not Used: Camp, Mills, Holmes, Boertien.

Goals: Costa 86.

Att: 26,412

Ref: G Cain (Merseyside).