Crewe Alex - 0 Barnsley - 1

FORMER Alex favourite Craig Hignett returned to haunt his old club with a first half strike that proved enough to give Barnsley victory.

Deep into injury time, he played a neat one-two with Shipperley on the edge of the box and fired past Kearton to give the Tykes the lead in a half where Crewe had spurned several chances.

After 21 minutes Cramb found an impressive looking Bignot out wide on the right who in turn put on a burst of pace before crossing a deadly ball that keeper Miller just managed to palm away.

Crewe poured forward and Jack six minutes later cut in from a run on the right to deliver a sweet cross to Little but his shot went just wide.

Kearton made Alex hearts miss a beat on the half hour after Jones' 25 yard free kick nearly caught him out, but the keeper held onto the ball after parrying it.

The Alex's best chance followed after 34 minutes as Bignot's right sided shot-cum-cross raced across the goal mouth and with Miller well out of position, Sorvel should have buried it but placed it wide from five yards.

Hignett's strike meant Crewe have conceded a goal in the '45th minute' in three successive matches.

Shipperley could have made it two on 55 minutes as he chased a long ball through into the box to leave him one on one with Kearton but Shaun Smith got back and his precision sliding tackle dispossessed him.

Shipperley continued the Tykes' charge and had several chances before the game turned on its head in the 65th minute as Little chased a through ball that Miller came out of his area to stop by handling it, giving the referee no alternative but to send him off.

Reserve keeper Bullock came on for Dyer but wasn't kept busy enough by the Alex as they virtually camped out in Barnsley's half for the remainder of the game..

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