Barton blasts referee for ‘ridiculous’ sending off
After firing the home side in front on 11 minutes, Barton lost his cool following a tussle with Johnson and appeared to headbutt the midfielder.
Following consultation with the assistant, he was shown a red card by referee Neil Swarbrick. However, the QPR captain defended himself on Twitter, saying: “Well feel for the officials, they’ve been conned. Admitted to me at HT they never saw it. I was pulled back 1st, then kicked 2nd.
“Linesman definitely never saw it, all he seen was Johnsons reaction. My head dosent move forward at all. Ridiculous decision seen 25 replays.”
Anthony Pilkington drew Norwich level just before half-time with a fine 20-yard effort, before substitute Steve Morison completed the turnaround.
Barton continued his defence on the social networking site, adding: “I’d be 1st to apologise if I’d reacted. Cannot apologise as I know I’ve not head butted anyone. Disappointed for the lads and the fans.
“Make ur own minds up when u see it. The games gone!”
Norwich manager Paul Lambert maintained he did not see the incident, preferring to instead focus on his own team’s efforts.
“I thought the lads deserved to win the game,” he said. “We started really well and got a foothold, then QPR scored against the run of play, but we kept on going. It is relentless, but we have coped brilliantly to this time.”
However, Neil Warnock backed his captain and condemned the reaction of Johnson. “He has not been headbutted at all, not in a million years. The movement of him going backwards has conned the referee. To go back like he did was a disgrace. It’s getting a fellow pro sent off. I think he should be done [punished]. Joey could have avoided the situation, but it doesn’t warrant the reaction from Johnson. I think we have been mugged. The ref has not even seen it.”
Warnock will wait to consider whether the club will appeal to the Football Association against what will be a three-match ban for Barton.
The defeat was an eighth in the last 11 for Rangers. Warnock named on-loan Manchester United striker Federico Macheda among the substitutes and is expected to do more business in the January transfer window.
QPR (4-4-2): P Kenny 6; C Hill 6, A Ferdinand 6, D Gabbidon 6, L Young 6; A Faurlin 6, S Derry 5, J Mackie 5, J Barton 4; A Taarabt 7, H Helguson 6.
Subs: S Wright-Phillips 6 for Mackie (45), F Macheda for Helguson (81) DJ Campbell for Taarabt (85).
Norwich City (4-4-2): J Ruddy 6; D Ayala 7, Z Whitbread 6, A Drury 6, R Martin 6; S Lappin 7, B Johnson 6, E Bennett 6, A Pilkington 7; S Jackson 6, G Holt 6.
Subs: W Hoolahan 6 for Drury (66), D Fox 5 for S Lappin (66), S Morison 7 for Holt (66).
Referee: Neil Swarbrick.
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