Premier League - Barton returns as Newcastle win

Eurosport - Wed, 29 Oct 08:29:00 2008

Joey Barton marked his return to the Newcastle starting line-up with the first goal in a 2-1 Premier League win over West Brom at St James' Park.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 Premier League Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton celebrates scoring against West Brom - 0

The controversial midfielder netted from the penalty spot after nine minutes before Obafemi Martins doubled the hosts' advantage just before the half-time whistle.

West Brom substitute Ishmael Miller swooped on 65 minutes to give the Baggies hope, but despite some nervy final moments, Newcastle held on to hand Joe Kinnear his first win since taking over as interim manager - and the Magpies their first victory in over two months.

The result saw Newcastle climb a provisional 15th place as the remaining 18 Premier League teams are not in action until Wednesday.

With Barton making his first start since serving a prison sentence - and considering his controversial badge-kissing antics while warming up at Sunderland at the weekend - all eyes were on the midfielder from the moment he emerged from the tunnel.

But it was Shola Ameobi who caught the eye most in the opening exchanges, the striker first latching onto a clever Damien Duff pass in just the second minute, only to see his attempted dink over Scott Carson fail to reach its intended target.

Ameobi was again involved moments later, flicking on to Martins whose slightly deflected shot forced Carson into a smart save.

But Barton refuses to be out of the spotlight for long and he was soon back on headline-making duty, thankfully this time for the right reasons.

Ameobi was tripped in the box by Ryan Donk and referee Mike Dean had no choice but to point to the spot, handing Barton the chance to make his return to the starting line-up a scoring one.

He kept his cool, sending Carson the wrong way to register his first goal of the season and put his side one up.

But following the weekend's furore, this time Barton opted not to kiss his badge, preferring instead to beat his chest in celebration. Needless to say, St James' erupted, although not quite in the same manner as the Stadium of Light had three days earlier.

Barton then fired wide from outside the box before Habib Beye blazed over the bar from Ameobi's cut-back. In between those chances, James Morrison was denied an equaliser by a fine Shay Given save having been put through on goal by Borja Valero.

Morrison was left to rue that miss as Martins doubled the Magpies' advantage on 42 minutes. The Nigerian took advantage of some slack West Brom marking to plant a firm standing header from Beye's cross past Carson.

Two further chances fell Morrison's way soon after the restart - one shot was blocked, the other flew over the bar - as West Brom pushed forward with more purpose than during the opening period.

And Tony Mowbray's side were rewarded on 65 minutes when Miller - on as a 54th minute substitute for Chris Brunt as the Baggies switched to a more attacking 4-4-2 - ran onto a clever Robert Koren through pass to round Given and slot into an empty net.

The goal gave the promoted side new hope and it took a dogged defensive display by Newcastle - and most notably a decent close range stop from Given to deny Miller on 73 minutes - to keep them at bay.

As the full time whistle approached, that defending became ever more dogged, but once Damien Duff had tracked back to mop up some late danger, time had ran out for the Baggies, leaving the Toon Army to breathe an audible sigh of relief and, more importantly, to celebrate a rare victory.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. This guy barton can fucck off...we dont want him in the­ UK.

    From teatotaller, on Thu 30 Oct 2:01PM

  2. Barton is a moron and so is anyone who thinks his­ behaviour warrants yet another chance,the references to­ Shearer in peoples comments should highlight how a­ professional footballer/role model should behave in­ comparison.and lets remember barton came from man­ city(where he assualted a team mate!)not real madrid or­ milan,if he is newcastles saviour then they can enjoy­ life in the championship next year,its a sad day for­ geordies when they have to cling to people like that­ for hope.as for being brave and facing the cameras (pr­ exercise to draw in muppets),don't make me­ laugh,watch the cctv footage of his assualt,wheres the­ courage in that!!

    From tony m, on Wed 29 Oct 4:31PM

  3. All those moaning about Barton: So, are you the­ blinkered sheep?

    Barton is not the first and will not­ be the last to have attacked someone.
    If you make a­ list of the footballers who have assualted fans and non­ fans the list would stretch around Wembley­ Stadium.
    Footballers have spent time in prison for­ drugs, assault, drink driving etc, etc, etc, the list­ goes on.
    But sheep like you believe everything they­ read in the media just like all the other sheep,­ because you are `unable` to form your own opinion.

    It­ happened OK, these footballers did the crime, served­ their time, and now are free people.
    So grow up, spit­ the dummy out, and get on with your life......
    Or you­ could always be a real football­ supporter..............................................­ .....nah, you couldn`t!

    From Bobby Robson A Legend, on Wed 29 Oct 12:46PM

  4. yh bt we ddnt keep lee did we. He dropped 2 oldham­ where as newcastle kept barton. Happy now

    From baggieminor, on Wed 29 Oct 12:08PM

  5. see no -ones brave enough to answer my poser about Lee­ Hughes, did he not kill someone and P*ss off. Seems to­ me like Barton must be hated. I'm not particularly­ fond of him and did called for him to be sacked but I­ think we've heard all we need to now, you're­ just repeating yourselves.

    From ian mack, on Wed 29 Oct 11:49AM

  6. Well done joey I hope this is the start of you being­ the player you are well done.

    From GEORGE, on Wed 29 Oct 10:06AM

  7. Barton helped NUFC last night so he is today a hero.­ What would have happened if he had missed the penalty?­ The hate boys would have ganged up again. The team is­ everything to the fanatics, they even forget what life­ is about. I know, I work with some of them and they do­ not live in Manchester or London, nor have they ever­ been there. They have just bought the shirt from one of­ Ashley's shops. NUFC will not go down, with or­ without Barton. Joe is the best man to sort him as he­ does not take any messing, not like KK who puts his arm­ around them and says it will be alright

    From taff, on Wed 29 Oct 9:40AM

  8. Am happy for Tyneside

    From omobobo, on Wed 29 Oct 9:40AM

  9. He re-offends coz he likes being a @#$% in the clink.

    From , on Wed 29 Oct 9:31AM

  10. Should be publicly flogged,and put in stocks in the­ village square where we can empty our pisspots over­ him.

    From , on Wed 29 Oct 9:30AM

  11. should not be allowed to play football ever again what­ kind of message is this sending out

    From david, on Wed 29 Oct 9:26AM

  12. i know nothing about football as tennis is my­ game

    now LOOK OUT MAN U as Newcastle are about to­ overtake

    From iigor_k, on Wed 29 Oct 9:23AM

  13. Put Barton in a Mexican clink...then well see how tough­ the kid is..

    From , on Wed 29 Oct 9:22AM

  14. Hell_united04 is a complete @#$%! you undastand nothing­ about life fool. Otherwise you would have realized that­ Joey is just as ordinary and human as the rest of us.­ Eric Cantona didnt get crucified for his horific­ behaviour on and off the pitch; wayne rooney never got­ mocked for his behaviour. So why would anyone as cruel­ as you think Barton deserves such inhumane treatment. I­ think you are the kinda guy who abuse kids for picking­ up candy from the floor to eat, and sent them so­ solitude in your closet. Give Barton a chance, just one­ at the least and stop displaying your stupidity on a­ worldwide forum. People like you are a disgrace not­ only to the English but to human existence....

    From olarewaju, on Wed 29 Oct 9:21AM

  15. I think it's good to see that Joey is back and­ moving in the right direction. He has the potential to­ be an amazing footballer if he can control his inner­ self!

    From OJ Pyro, on Wed 29 Oct 9:16AM

  16. As good a player as Barton is, the offences he has­ caused over the past few years have been disgraceful -­ had any average man/woman committed such offences,­ they'd be in jail at the moment serving their time.­ As for 'Barton, instead of him earning a high wage­ and playing professional football, he should be alone­ in a jail-cell for what he has done in the past.

    From ROBERT, on Wed 29 Oct 9:13AM

  17. I wonder whose biitch Barton was,in the clink?

    From , on Wed 29 Oct 9:12AM

  18. Come on achunkyjones you idiot, Barton is not a child­ here. What planet do you live on you thick piece of­ @#$%? You are as thick as the other 55000000 on that­ island of yours

    From sappercommando25, on Wed 29 Oct 8:54AM

  19. hell_united04, and what was/ cantona and Lee Hughes,­ should he be playing?

    From ian mack, on Wed 29 Oct 8:27AM

  20. Dercute (post 67)

    Just being English!!!!!!!! I resent­ that,and I'm sure a lot of others will too.But­ that's part of the reason that people don't­ like Barton.When the English go abroad,we're all­ tarred with the same brush.So,two things.stick to­ comments about football,or don't post and do try­ using better grammer!!

    As for Barton.Let's hope­ he's finally telling the truth about turning things­ around.God knows he's had more than enough­ chances!!

    From jhr881, on Wed 29 Oct 8:00AM
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