QPR manager Neil Warnock has stated that Joey Barton's sending off against Norwich was ridiculous, as The Canaries beat their newly promoted opponents 2-1 at Loftus Road on Monday.

Barton had given the hosts the lead after 11 minutes before being dismissed just after the half hour mark; Anthony Pilkington and Steve Morison goals secured the win for the visitors.

Barton was sent off for head-butting Bradley Johnson, and Warnock was furious with the decision after the game.

"The referee didn't see it at all. It's the linesman that's informed him he saw Joey Barton headbutt Bradley Johnson, which is ridiculous really," Warnock told Sky Sports.

"I think he's guessed it because of Johnson's reaction of flinging his head back. You say cheats don't prosper but I think he has done in this case, Johnson.

"Then to rub it in by (acting) as if his face has been hurt. But he's conned him and unfortunately the man that's important, the linesman, has fallen for it hook, line and sinker. I think he got carried away by the occasion.

"It's disappointing, very disappointing. Because I thought we'd started to do well," he stated.

Meanwhile Barton has stated that he feels that the officials were conned into making a decision due to Johnson's reaction.

"Well I feel for the officials, they've been conned. Admitted to me at half-time they never saw it. I was pulled back 1st, then kicked 2nd," he stated on Twitter.

"The linesman definitely never saw it, all he seen was Johnson's reaction. My head doesn't move forward at all. Ridiculous decision, seen 25 replays," he concluded.

Norwich are up to 9th place with the win, whilst QPR are down in 17th and looking like relegation candidates.

By Gareth McKnight

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