Craig Hignett dealt Sheffield United's play-off hopes a severe blow with the last-gasp winner in a pulsating South Yorkshire derby.

The Barnsley playmaker weaved his magic to find space on the edge of the Blades penalty area before sending Oakwell wild with a low drive that beat Alan Kelly's despairing dive.

Hignett had earlier given the Tykes the lead, before Steve Bruce's men dragged themselves level with a dramatic 86th minute strike from Marcelo.

The double-whammy was a fitting finale to a quite wonderful game, with play constantly swinging from end-to-end before the visitors put John Hendrie's men under some intense second half pressure.

Hignett lit the blue touchpaper as early as the 14th minute. Bruce Dyer set off on a penetrating run before laying the ball inside for fellow striker Mike Sheron who laid the ball square to the unmarked Hignett to fire home from 12 yards.

Dyer almost made it two shortly afterwards as his shot from a long Tony Bullock punt was well saved by Blades keeper Alan Kelly.

Kelly was again forced into action, acrobatically tipping a Clayton Blackmore volley to safety as the home side continued to look for a second.

But it was far from one-way traffic, as both Marcelo and full back Robert Kozluk missed good opportunities in front of goal.

Paul Devlin also brought out a good save from keeper Bullock with a firm downward header after good work by Wayne Quinn.

And it was Quinn who came closest to levelling the scores at the start of he second half. Devlin tapped a free kick into the full back's path and he fired a low drive that cannoned off Bullock's left hand post to safety.

The visitors stepped up the pressure and on-loan striker Andy Campbell wasted a good chance by firing wide instead of squaring to the unmarked Marcelo.

But the large contingent of Blades supporters were on their feet with minutes remaining as the Brazilian striker took advantage of some hesitant defending from a makeshift Tykes defence to fire home from eight yards.

That looked to be that, until Hignett stepped up with his injury time party piece to give Barnsley their third successive victory after a traumatic couple of months.

Teams

Barnsley: T. Bullock, Eaden, Krizan (Sheridan 10), Richardson, Jones, Appleby, Blackmore, Hignett, Sheron (Turner 83), Dyer, M. Bullock.

Subs Not Used: Marcelle.

Booked: Eaden, Appleby.

Goals: Hignett 14, 90.

Sheff Utd: Kelly, Kozluk (Jacobsen 83), Quinn, Woodhouse, Sandford, Tebily, Morris (Donis 64), Derry (Ford 58), Marcelo,Devlin, Campbell.

Booked: Derry, Devlin, Jacobsen.

Goals: Marcelo 86.

Att: 17,566

Ref: C Foy (St Helens).