Warnock slams Barton red card

QPR manager Neil Warnock has branded the actions of Bradley Johnson “a disgrace” after his part in Joey Barton’s red card.

After Barton had opened the scoring early in the first half, a coming together between the QPR captain and Johnson led to the referee’s assistant telling referee Neil Swarbrick that Barton had headbutted the Norwich City midfielder.

Anthony Pilkington went on to equliase for Norwich City before half-time before Steve Morison netted a late winner for the visitors, leaving QPR two points above the relegation zone.

“What can you say really? Cheats don’t prosper they say, but Bradley Johnson has never been headbutted at all,” Warnock said.

“Not in a million years has he been headbutted today. Joey Barton, all right, he’s in a position where their heads are together, but the movement of Johnson’s head going back has conned the linesman.”

“The referee hasn’t seen it, but the linesman, who’s 50 yards away has given it. I think really he’s guessed.”

“I’ve been to see him, and he said there’s a headbutt, but when you see it, because the lad’s gone back, you presume he’s been headbutted.”

“Something has happened on the pitch, and he’s almost presumed it’s happened. It’s like tossing a coin, isn’t it?”

“Johnson’s a clever man, isn’t he. And then to rub salt in the wounds he starts rubbing his nose as if he’s feeling for blood. It’s a double act, that, isn’t it? To go back like that is a disgrace, I think personally.”

“I think we’ve been mugged left, right and centre with that one. It’s getting a fellow pro sent off, I think he should be punished. But they’ve come out of it with three points so in a way, it’s got to be the best thing he could have done.”

Barton labelled his sending off as a “ridiculous decision” on twitter.

“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,” Barton said.

“Linesman definitely never saw it, all he seen was Johnsons reaction. My head dosent move forward at all. Ridiculous decision seen 25 replays.”

“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 City manager Paul Lambert said he did not see the red card incident.

“No, I’ve not seen it. I’ve not really spoken to the lads, I’ve just said well done and left it to them,” Lambert said.

“It’s a really tough place to come, but I thought we deserved to win the game.”

“I thought we started the game well, I really do. I thought we got a foothold in the game really well.”

“They scored against the run of play with a really good goal but we kept on going. I thought we played really well.”