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Paul Coutts' last-gasp equaliser for visitors Derby denied Barnsley a win which would have lifted them out of the Championship relegation zone.

The Scottish midfielder connected with substitute Michael Jacobs' corner to earn the Rams a much-needed point in their scrap to avoid the drop.

Coutts' finish cancelled out Chris O'Grady's 47th-minute strike for the hosts, who remain second bottom.

And Derby now find themselves four points clear of the drop zone.

After the Rams had enjoyed the majority of the first-half possession and chances, Barnsley broke the deadlock two minutes after the interval with O'Grady volleying in a cross from impressive debutant Andrai Jones.

The former Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday striker succeeded where Barnsley striker Jason Scotland had failed in the first half, when he spurned two good chances in the opening 15 minutes.

But the visitors responded strongly before the break, Tykes keeper Luke Steele keeping the home side in the game as he denied efforts from Rams trio Jeff Hendrick, Ben Davies and Jake Buxton.

After the O'Grady opener, Barnsley nearly doubled their lead as Tomasz Cywka's 18-yard effort was well saved by Frank Fielding in the Derby goal.

But the Rams came back into it, Chris Martin firing over from 25 yards as the visitors searched for the equaliser.

And the mounting pressure told as Coutts' late header meant Derby avoided a third successive league defeat.

Barnsley manager David Flitcroft:

"The players are feeling the pressure of the situation, there's no doubt about it.

"It was a brave performance, but we didn't get the result we wanted.

"It's not a difficult one to take, it's just disappointment. It's an emotion we're going to have to soon get over."

Derby boss Nigel Clough:

"I thought we thoroughly deserved a point, but it really should have been three after the first-half performance.

"Considering the circumstances it was good to get something considering we were 1-0 down in stoppage time. You take your point.

"That point keeps our head above water with only three games to go. There's still quite a few teams below us in the table."