Rovers get out of jail

For, during his 18 month stint with the Tykes, the veteran midfield schemer dragged the unfashionable Yorkshire club to the verge of the Premiership virtually single-handedly.

And even now, almost two years after his enforced £2.5 million switch to Ewood Park, his letterbox still bulges with more fan mail off Barnsley fans than anyone else.

However, in football -- more than any other industry -- there's simply no place for sentiment when the chips are down.

So, when Rovers desperately needed a flash of inspiration to save them from the jaws of an embarrassing Cup exit, up stepped the wily midfielder with a 'Get Out of Jail' card to gazump his former club.

But, if Hignett's priceless 82nd minute equaliser broke the hearts of the Yorkshire branch of his thriving fan club, it only served to raise his stock amongst Blackburn supporters.

Rovers fans must have feared the worst when Darren Barnard arrowed a stunning 25 yarder into the top right hand corner with 13 minutes remaining on the clock.

At that point Graeme Souness's men stood on the brink of a fourth straight defeat -- a result which would have stuck in the throat like an indigestible Barnsley chop!

But, thankfully, Hignett had other ideas and promptly stole his old friend's thunder with a cheeky finish of his own.

It was a special moment for a player who has spent most of the last six months on the outside looking in.

And, with Souness now looking for the right combination to get the best out of new signing Andy Cole, he couldn't have chosen a more opportune moment to remind the manager of his true value to the squad.

"I've got fond memories of that net but I only, generally, get two a season with my head!" quipped the cheeky scouser.

"I got on really well with Darren Barnard when I was here and I told him two minutes earlier that I was going to score -- I could feel it coming.

"He scored with his right foot which he never does and I scored one with my head, so I guess you could say they were both collectors items.

"But I was itching to be selected and I kicked everyone in training last week trying to get a game.

"And, thankfully, it paid off."

After five hours without a goal, Rovers fans were desperate for something to cheer after enduring a Christmas of Scrooge-like proportions.

And Hignett's timely equaliser came as a welcome tonic for everyone of a blue and white persuasion.

Once again, during the previous 81 minutes, the visitors struggled to impose themselves against a tigerish Barnsley side who contested every ball as if their lives depended on it.

But then a crusty playing surface was hardly conducive for free-flowing football as Rovers' flair players like Tugay and David Dunn attempted to showcase their talents.

And, with Damien Duff and Keith Gillespie both absent from the starting line-up, the visitors missed their silver service from the flanks.

However, in Hignett, Rovers still possessed the most inventive player on the pitch and there was an air of inevitably about his equaliser when he stooped to expertly flick home Alan Mahon's raking left-wing centre with his head.

That was harsh on Barnard, whose thunderous strike -- with his wrong foot -- was worthy of winning any game.

But the Reds winger still left Oakwell smiling, even if he had to share the limelight with his old pal.

"Higgy's a typical Scouser with a great sense of humour and he's a good player who's doing very well for Blackburn," said Barnard.

"But I've told him that his was a scrappy goal with no finesse to it -- unlike mine.

"I think the last time I scored with my right foot was about five years ago for Bristol City so to see that go in surprised even me.

"I've hit a few recently that have only just managed to reach the goal but, one in a hundred flies in, and I guess today was my lucky day."

If Rovers needed reminding about how important it is to preserve their Premier League status then they got it here in an instantly forgettable first half.

In a throw back to the Nationwide League battles of last season, the fare served up by both sides in a scrappy opening 45 minutes would have caused palpitations among genuine connoisseurs of the game.

Barnsley launched the ball forward at every opportunity, looking to utilise the pace of Bruce Dyer up front.

And Craig Short and Co had to dig deep to repel such a direct approach in the face of such an aerial bombardment.

Neither side, however, fully mastered the conditions and both keepers were only called upon to make fairly routine saves.

Hignett skimmed the post with a well-measured curler from the edge of the box and then fired straight at Kevin Miller following a dynamic run from Tugay.

But Barnard fired a warning at the opposite end when he headed over from Kevin Donovan's centre.

And Rovers then survived again when Chris Barker's goal-bound shot was blocked by a defender following an almighty scramble.

Both sides upped the tempo after the break as Matt Jansen saw his header before Dyer then just failed to get a decisive touch to a Barnard cross.

But, as Souness then threw on Gillespie to add some pace and guile up front, Barnsley suddenly struck in wondrous fashion.

There appeared to be little danger when Barnard seized onto a lay-off from Dyer on the left but he cut inside with purpose before unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive which flew past Friedel into the far right-hand corner.

Oakwell erupted as the home fans started to dream of a giant-killing.

However, that illusion was subsequently shattered within five minutes when Hignett then stooped to flick a cute header beyond Miller into the far corner from Mahon's centre to earn Rovers a second bite at the cherry.

RESULT:

BARNSLEY...1 ROVERS...1

Scorer: Barnard 77. Scorer: Hignett 82.

Attendance...12,314