Paolo Di Canio stole the spoils for Ron Atkinson and Sheffield Wednesday with a goal in the dying moments of a tense Yorkshire derby battle.

Wednesday's £4.5 million record signing snatched victory with just two minutes left on the clock. Barnsley gifted di Canio possession and the Italian raced clear and coolly rounded Leese before slotting the ball home.

Barnsley had earlier underlined their determination when a 29thminute first-half free-kick from skipper Neil Redfearn put his side back into the contest. Di Canio, the instigator of so many Wednesday moves in the first half, had set the ball rolling with a curled-in 19th-minute free-kick from the right wing for Yugoslav Stefanovic to beat goalkeeper Lars Leese with a left-foot shot from close range.

Sheffield Wednesday: Pressman, Nolan, Pembridge, Walker, Whittingham, Carbone (Hyde 66), Booth, Di Canio, Stefanovic, Collins, Rudi. Subs Not Used: Clarke, Blondeau, Humphreys, Magilton. Booked: Di Canio. Goals: Stefanovic 19, Di Canio 88.

Barnsley: Leese, Eaden, Appleby (Bullock 90), Sheridan, Moses, Redfearn, Liddell (Hendrie 86), Bosancic, Krizan, Barnard, Ward. Subs Not Used: Watson, Marcelle, Hristov. Booked: Krizan. Goals: Redfearn 29.

Referee: G S Willard (Worthing).