ANGRY Blackburn midfielder Craig Hignett launched a scathing attack on referee Graham Barber after branding his performance in Rovers' FA Cup defeat at Middlesbrough as 'the worst he has ever seen.'

Man-in-the-middle Barber infuriated Hignett and his Ewood colleagues when he sent-off Lucas Neill for a challenge on last man Robbie Stockdale in the 72nd minute of Saturday's fifth round clash at the Riverside Stadium which Rovers lost 1-0.

Manager Graeme Souness was so incensed by the decision that police later had to hold him back from confronting the match officials on the final whistle.

Now Rovers are ready to fight to get Neill's red-card rescinded, even though there are no official grounds for an appeal.

And Hignett has added further fuel to the fire by insisting he fears for the whole future of the game unless such glaring errors are stamped out.

"That was the worst performance I have ever seen from a referee at any level," said the former Middlesbrough man.

"He just wanted to be the centre of attention, you could see that from the stupid fouls and cautions he awarded.

"Lucas Neill's sending off just mirrors what is going on in the game now. The television evidence was embarrassing.

"For a start Stockdale was off-side and there was no foul committed. The referee shook his head but then a novice linesman got involved and gave an unbelievable decision.

"Since the referees have turned professional they have gone downhill rapidly.

"The refs are turning the game into a total nonsense. It is getting to the stage where you cannot enjoy it anymore.

"It is a non-contact sport now and you cannot go out and enjoy it.

"If the likes of Mark Hughes were starting his career now he wouldn't have a career because the game has changed so much."

As well as Neill's red-card, Barber also showed yellow cards to four other Rovers players, including Hignett himself who was booked for a foul.

"I got a caution for a shoulder charge. That says to me two shoulder charges and you are off which is ridiculous.

"You have to be so careful now. Players from the continent have come in and changed the culture of football here. I call it cheating. It is up to the English players to adapt and it's all wrong. What is going on? It should not be like this."

With Craig Short and Tugay already out of both the Worthington Cup final and the Bolton game through suspension, Rovers' disciplinary problems are starting to pile up.

Souness could now face an FA probe after reacting angrily on Saturday, but said: "I'm not too bothered about what happens to me, I just want justice for my players."

"I will probably get a fine now for what I've said about the referee but what happens to him? Who says to him 'You've had a bad game and arguably cost Blackburn the match?' His assessor can give him zero out of 10 but what happens? He will be back in the Premier League next week."

Under FA rules, clubs can only appeal to a review panel against sending offs for violent conduct.

However, Rovers were hoping to put pressure on the FA today to ask Barber to reconsider the incident again on video.