We won't fall for old tricks, says Mike Williamson

Aug 30 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

JOEY Barton is no longer vulnerable to football's wind-up merchants, according to team-mate Mike Williamson. Just as well, because the Newcastle United defender expects plenty of underhand tricks from opponents this season.

Barton’s short fuse has become notorious, even if it has exploded more notably off the pitch than on it. Wolverhampton Wanderers clearly saw it as a weakness on Saturday, attempting to provoke the midfielder with a series of over-physical tackles. Williamson thinks they were wasting their time.

“They possibly targeted Joey Barton, but he can handle things like that,” he said. “Other teams think they can wind him up, but he’s old enough now that he’s wise to it. He played unbelievably well, he put himself about and got his just desserts. Joey knows what to expect. He’s very professional and went about his job. He got his own back by putting the free-kick in for the goal.

“It’s obvious how much Saturday meant to Wolves and it will be the same with other teams.” An extremely combative 1-1 draw in the Black Country was a million miles from the previous week’s 6-0 demolition of Aston Villa. That victory had no effect on the mood of the players, according to Williamson.

“The Villa game was just a one-off,” he reflected. “It was the actual performance we took all the confidence from. The boys were working for each other and as a unit.

“I don’t think there was ever any chance of us getting carried away after the Villa game.”