IF Mark Hughes calls time on his career in British football at the end of this season, Rovers fans can be sure of one thing -- the ageing striker has no intention of going quietly!

Now classed in the veteran bracket and fast approaching his 38th birthday, the former Manchester United hit-man is all too painfully aware of the fact the clock is ticking on his life in the Premiership.

But any thoughts of the Welsh boss bowing out gracefully were suddenly dispelled within 30 seconds of his dramatic entrance as he thumped home a scorching right-foot volley in typical Hughesie style to send his old club packing in an astonishing finale.

It was the type of script even the writers of Roy of the Rovers would have struggled to dream up.

First half goals from Garry Flitcroft and Nathan Blake saw Graeme Souness's men take a 2-1 interval lead. Then Hernandez appeared to have dashed Rovers' hopes of a morale-boosting victory with a hotly-disputed penalty in the closing stages.

But then enter Hughes, the man who scored just four goals in 28 games for Barca during a disappointing spell at the Nou Camp in the Eighties, and within a minute he had penned a fairytale ending which saw Ewood erupt.

"What more can I say about him that hasn't already been said?" said Souness.

"Mark's enthusiasm for the game has never changed during the time he's been with us and I've certainly not heard him say this is his last year.

"And with enthusiasm like that, who's to say this it's his last?

"It was a brilliant goal and a fitting way to win any game, never mind this.

"So I'm sure he'll be delighted with that but he knows it's not all about results at this stage, it's about getting your fitness for the challenges ahead."

That said, beating one of the best teams in Europe can only do wonders for your confidence with just a week to go before the big kick-off.

And no-one would deny Rovers there moment of glory after a stunning team performance against a side containing some of the biggest names on the planet.

Patrick Kluivert, Phillip Cocu, Marc Overmars and Luis Enrique -- it was a who's who of football.

But Rovers were far from overawed and if this is a taste of things to come over the next nine months then the new season cannot come quickly enough.

Okay, before anyone gets carried away, there werre no Champions League places up for grabs and this was Barca's third game in five days. But the way Rovers worked as a team brought back memories of the halcyon days under Kenny Dalglish in terms of the way they chased and harried the Spaniards out of their stride.

It was an interesting contrast of styles.

Barca's fluidity of movement was a joy to watch as they caressed the ball across the rain-sodden Ewood turf with the nonchalance you would expect from a side packed with masters of their craft.

Rovers, in contrast, were far more rigid and the discipline with which they kept their shape was just as admirable in its own special way.

Souness had instructed his side to defend in two banks of four in an effort to stop Barca from playing through them.

And they stuck to their task manfully, even if it meant spending most of the afternoon closing down space.

"Our fans are going to have to get used to that this season," said Souness.

"We can't go gung-ho like we did last season or we'll get ripped apart in the Premiership.

"So it means we'll have to play a bit more cat and mouse this time, even at home."

Missing Tugay and Matt Jansen through injury, Souness was robbed of two his more creative forces.

And it took Rovers time to find their feet as Barca bossed the opening 20 minutes.

Overmars carved open the home defence with a typically electric run before cutting a great ball back to Kluivert only for the Dutch master to be denied by Friedel.

But, then after David Dunn went close at the other end, Barca broke the deadlock in the 18th minute.

A shot from the brilliant Hernandez flicked off the boot of Garry Flitcroft and straight into the path of Cocu who spun and fired past Friedel in the blink of an eye from 10 yards.

That failed to break Rovers' spirit, however, and Dunn nearly conjured up an equaliser with a rising drive which flashed just over the bar. But then on 29 minutes the equaliser did arrive and the goal was typically English.

Damien Duff outfoxed Torre on the left before whipping over a fine cross to the far post where Flitcroft towered above his marker before sending a powerful header back into the opposite corner.

Rovers grew in confidence after that as Nathan Blake headed straight at Roberto Bonano after another searching centre from Stig Bjornebye.

And then the Welsh striker -- who looked a threat all afternoon -- won a penalty when he was felled by Christenval in the area and, though Dunn's spotkick was saved, Blake reacted quickest to bundle home the rebound.

After the break, Barca stepped up a gear as Kluivert rattled the bar with a shot from 15 yards following an awesome five-man move.

But then they were gifted a controversial equaliser completely out of nothing when the referee decided to award them a hotly disputed penalty with 16 minutes left for a supposed push by Henning Berg on Kluivert.

Hernandez stepped forward to send Friedel the wrong way and Rovers' chances of pulling off a shock appeared to have been sunk.

Hughes, however, had other ideas and within 30 seconds of coming on as a 79th minute sub, he connected with a Curtis cross and swept a vicious volley past Reina. Amazing stuff.

RESULT:

ROVERS 3 BARCELONA 2

Flitcroft 29, Blake 42, Hughes 80 Cocu 18, Hernandez 74