Sheffield United's faint hopes of an automatic promotion finish were all but extinguished as they were held to a 2-2 draw by a spirited Blackpool at Bramall Lane.

United dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead when Danny Coid was forced to head into his own net following a David Cotterill corner.

But the game was turned on its head either side of the break with first Nick Blackman netting with a powerful drive off the underside of the bar.

And then, DJ Campbell capped his impressive display with a goal just after the break following a mistake from Blades defender Chris Morgan.

Campbell could have extended the visitors' lead midway through the second half, but he fired at Paddy Kenny when clean through. And they were made to pay for the miss as Cotterill struck home an equalising penalty in the 72nd minute after Paul Rachubka had upended substitute Jamie Ward.

Although the result extends United's unbeaten run to five league matches the dropped two points will surely end their chances of a top-two finish.

Despite part floodlight failure at Bramall Lane both managers agreed there was enough light to get play under way on time and it was the visitors who started the brighter with Owens and Campbell looking dangerous down the left.

However, they found themselves behind after five minutes when an inswinging Cotterill corner caused havoc in the Blackpool box and Coid could only flick a near-post header past his own goalkeeper.

Danny Webber came close to doubling Blades' lead when, after a neat bit of skill to beat the defender, he lashed a volley straight at Paul Rachubka.

Blackpool did show glimpses of attacking intent but more often than not the quality in the final third was lacking.

United, however, never really made the pressure count and wasted possession on numerous occasions with Henderson guilty on more than one occasion of playing the ball straight to an orange shirt.

As the half wore on the visitors' confidence visibly grew and Campbell, who was causing Morgan all sorts of problems at the back, came within a whisker of netting the equaliser when his low shot from the edge of the area flashed just wide.

Blackpool were not to be denied though, and two minutes before the break Blackman struck after yet more good play from Campbell.

The on-loan Leicester frontman bustled past two defenders before laying the ball to Blackman on the edge of the area.

Blackman, who himself is on loan with the Seasiders, then smashed the ball into the net off the underside of the bar albeit via a slight deflection.

The game was completely turned on its head in the 50th minute following a mistake from Morgan.

The Blades skipper looked to cut out Alex Baptiste's through pass but managed only to get the ball caught under his feet and allow Campbell to race through on goal and tuck the ball past Kenny.

United were almost back on level terms moments later when Webber twisted and turned his way towards goal but his deflected close-range shot deflected off the foot of the post.

Henderson then forced a good diving save from Rachubka after he rose highest to direct Kyle Naughton's cross towards goal.

At the other end, Campbell could have put the game to bed when he raced clear on goal, but Kenny was equal to his low shot.

Blackwell introduced Ward to add more firepower and his change paid almost immediate dividends as the former Chesterfield striker was brought down by Rachubka when through on goal giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

From the penalty Cotterill sent Rachubka - who was lucky just to receive a yellow card for the incident - the wrong way.

Charlie Adam went close for the visitors with a thunderbolt free kick which Kenny did well to parry out, before Ward forced a save from Rachubka at the other end.

Teams

Sheff Utd Kenny, Naughton, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith,Cotterill, Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Halford (Beattie 46),Henderson (Lupoli 90), Webber (Ward 59).

Subs Not Used: O'Toole, Bromby.

Goals: Coid 5 og, Cotterill 73 pen.

Blackpool Rachubka, Coid, Baptiste, Barker, Crainey,Taylor-Fletcher, Southern, Adam, Owens (Jorgensen 79),Blackman (Martin 86), Campbell.

Subs Not Used: Broomes, Halstead, Fox.

Booked: Barker, Rachubka.

Goals: Blackman 42, Campbell 50.

Att: 25,273

Ref: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire).