Twice Barnsley found themselves teetering on the brink of victory only to see Darius Henderson secure a point for Sheffield United with a pair of well-taken penalties.

While his counterpart, Mark Robins, was left to reflect on what might have been, Kevin Blackwell described the result as a potential turning point in his side's season.

Ravaged by injuries and having travelled on the back of a four-match losing streak, the United manager must have feared the worst when Anderson de Silva and Daniel Bogdanovic threatened to heap even more pressure on his charges' shoulders.

United's first point in over six hours of football came at a price with Matthew Kilgallon and Ian Bennett both being admitted to Bramall Lane's increasingly-crowded treatment room.

What Blackwell's men inevitably lacked in cohesion they more than made up for with courage to frustrate opponents whose performance nevertheless bodes well for the future.

"I'm proud of the lads for the bravery and guts they've shown," Blackwell, who revealed that Andrew Davies had also played through the pain barrier despite suffering a nasty blow to the ankle.

"They've not always got their rewards in recent weeks and were facing a big test of their confidence and character after going behind.
"We've had a throw people together out there who haven't worked with each other at all and that can make things very difficult.

"But they've dug in and shown the spirit that we've asked of them.
"The ones who've been here a long time have always shown it and now the new ones have demonstrated they've got it too.

"Now, with the international break coming up, we've got an opportunity to get four or five fit again and hopefully press on."
Robins accused referee Mark Clattenburg of being "too quick with his whistle" during an explosive second half but his anger would have been better directed elsewhere.

Barnsley, profiting from Bogdanovic's burgeoning partnership with Jon Macken, dominated for long periods but failed to turn possession into a healthy lead at the interval.
"Disappointed? You could say that," countered Robins. "I thought we played well, though.

"We controlled things for much of the game, but they are a good outfit.
"Whether or not they were penalties I don't know, but when I sit in my office and watch them again in the cold light of day they may well be.
"What I do know though is that we've come up against one of the strongest sides United could have put out there.

"It was great derby and that we're disappointed not to have come away with more after being ahead twice."

With Stephen Foster and Chris Morgan suspended, both clubs' preparations had been complicated by the knowledge they would be missing not only their captains but also an inspirational centre-half.
However, United's loss proved to be the greater as Barnsley seized control by laying siege to the visitors' penalty area during the early exchanges.

Bogdanovic, their Maltese striker, was the main protagonist and only an expertly-timed tackle by Kilgallon prevented him from claiming a ninth-minute opener before forcing a fine reaction save from Bennett.
The veteran, again preferred to Mark Bunn, repaid Blackwell's faith by clawing away de Silva's header while Hugo Colace also went close as the pressure on Blackwell's hastily reshuffled rearguard grew.

However, despite finding themselves under the cosh for long periods, Ched Evans provided a reminder of the quality United still have at their disposal when a delicate piece of control allowed him to escape his marker's clutches and send a low drive whistling past Luke Steele's post. The Wales marksman then turned provider with a searching cross which Henderson should have converted.

United's rearguard has borne the brunt of the crippling injury crisis which threatens to hijack their campaign.
Despite welcoming back Jamie Ward into his starting 11, Blackwell was cursing his luck when Kilgallon and Bennett were both withdrawn with knocks.

Kilgallon's departure, after being caught by Ryan Shotton's late tackle, enabled Derek Geary to make his first appearance in over a year following knee surgery.

The full-back announced his arrival with a crunching challenge on Colace but fellow substitute Bunn's first task was to pick the ball out of the back of the net when de Silva's thundered home an emphatic 53rd-minute finish.

Having seen United's defensive ramparts breached for the 23rd time in 10 outings, Blackwell was staring into the abyss, but his charges produced a courageous response to claw themselves back on level terms six minutes later.

Steele, who moments earlier had breathed a sigh of relief when Keith Treacy struck the woodwork from close range, felled Evans as they contested a loose ball in the area and was subsequently beaten from the spot.

Iain Hume, who sustained a fractured skull during a challenge with Morgan during the corresponding fixture last term, received a rapturous reception from the home crowd when he entered the fray.
But not before Bogdanovic had capped an industrious display by turning Macken's cross past Bunn.

However, just as Barnsley sensed victory, Adam Hammill's careless tackle on Kyle Walker provided United with another escape route.
It was an offer Henderson gratefully accepted by claiming his second of an eventful evening.


Bosses' view
BLACKWELL: I'm proud of the lads. Another game and another two injuries. But we should hopefully get some people back now and we've come through a big test.
ROBINS: I thought the referee was a little quick with his whistle. We're disappointed especially after leading twice.