An injury-time equaliser from Lee Williamson denied Derby County all three points in this afternoon's Coca-Cola Championship fixture at Sheffield United.

Robbie Savage's stunning early goal looked to have been enough for the Rams who were excellent throughout at Bramall Lane, but Lee Williamson crashed home with seconds to go to break the Rams' hearts.

New signing and former Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge was handed a Derby debut in the only change from last Saturday's local derby triumph over Nottingham Forest at Pride Park.

Tonge replaced Lee Johnson in the middle of the park after the conclusion of Johnson's loan period from Bristol City at the start of the week.

Fellow new signing Javan Vidal was amongst the substitutes.

Wearing their blue and white striped 'Argentina' strip for the third time this season Derby got the game underway.

Derby settled well and a smart turn down the right by Commons created space for the forward to deliver a telling ball into the six-yard box which a stretching Hulse guided just inches wide of the near post.

A fantastic reverse pass from Commons played Green in on goal moments later, but Bunn smothered the midfielder's effort inside his six-yard box.

Derby continued to make the early inroads and their pressure was rewarded with a stunning opening goal on seventeen minutes from skipper Savage.

United failed to clear a cross sufficiently and when the ball fell to Savage some 25 yards out he lashed home on half volley for his second goal of the campaign to bring the 2,000+ away fans to their feet.

The quality of the strike from the former Wales international gave Bunn in the home goal no chance at all and Savage wheeled away to celebrate his second goal of the season.

The home side had an instant opportunity to equalise by Williamson dragged his volley wide from outside the area.

The Rams continued to control the game and Bunn came to United's rescue to prevent Commons making it 2-0. The frontman found space smartly in the right-hand side of the penalty area and he arrowed a shot towards the near post which Bunn reacted well to and pushed behind for a corner.

Oozing with confidence and playing some of their best football of the season, Derby were enjoyed the better of the game and Tonge tried his luck with a low drive inside the box that Stewart blocked at the expense of another Derby corner.

Derby were having plenty of joy getting in behind United's full-backs on both sides, resulting in some teasing balls into the box to test the home backline.

Bunn was the Blades hero again in the closing stages of the half, making a fine stop at his near post from Tonge's thunderous volley.

United exerted some pressure towards the end of the half, but the Rams defence held firm and Bywater remained untested.

The Rams started the second period in the same vein and Green clipped a cross from Tonge just over the bar inside the box.

United then began to enjoy their first spell of pressure during the game by forcing set-pieces in good positions, but Derby were relatively comfortable.

Hulse and Commons combined well on the hour to create a Derby chance from a set-piece, but unlike last week Hulse couldn't hit the target and he volleyed over.

The Blades were forced into a change of goalkeeper midway through the half, introducing Ian Bennett in place of Bunn who had been struggling since the early stages of the game with a knock.

Bywater made his first real save of the afternoon with twenty minutes left, diving full length to his left to palm away Stewart's long-range effort and he was up on his feet quickly to block Camara's rebound effort with a magnificent block.

Gary Teale's introduction in place of Pearson was Derby's first change in a straight swap on the left wing with just under twenty minutes left.

United weren't letting Derby have anywhere near the same time and space they had in the first period, but the defence failed to come under serious pressure which owed a great deal to the midfield and strikers who ran themselves into the ground throughout.

Commons almost round off the victory with eight minutes to go but he dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box. That was his last involvement as moments later he was replaced by Chris Porter up front alongside Hulse.

United, with their home support behind them and chasing some sort of result to remain in the playoff spots, poured forwards in the closing minutes and Cresswell headed a golden chance wide inside the six-yard box with two minutes remaining.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time, United crashed home the equaliser to break Derby's hearts.

With Derby looking to make a change to bring Russell Anderson into the game United burst forwards and Williamson thundered a powerful low drive past Bywater to level the scores.

Anderson was eventually brought into the action in place of Hulse, but there was barely time for him to make any impact before the final whistle sounded. 

Sheffield United: Bunn (Bennett 68), Montgomery, Nosworthy, Henderson (Ward 63), Evans (Camara 69), Yeates, Williamson, Cresswell, Stewart, Quinn, Kallio
Subs: France, Little, Geary, Fortune
Booked: Williamson
Goals: Williamson (90)

Derby County: Bywater, Hunt, Barker, Buxton, McEveley, Green, Pearson (Teale 72), Savage, Tonge, Hulse, Commons (Porter 83)
Subs: Deeney, Anderson, Moxey, Vidal, Pringle
Goals: Savage (17)

Referee: Mr G Salisbury

Attendance: 25,300