Wolves skipper keeps winding up Joey Barton

Aug 30 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers have warned Joey Barton to expect more rough treatment when they visit Tyneside in April after captain Karl Henry claimed the Newcastle United midfielder is not the hard man some make him out to be.

Despite their post-match protestations to the contrary, Wolves clearly targeted Barton and his suspect temperament in the 1-1 draw at Molineux. Henry was one of four Wolves players – along with Jelle van Damme, Matt Jarvis and Adlene Guedioura – booked for fouling him in a spiteful match of 12 cautions.

“It was that sort of game, it was a battle, a good old-fashioned scrappy game, lots of tackles flying in with both teams trying to set a tempo, I don’t think there was a lot of quality on show,” reflected Henry, whose first foul on Barton came in the second minute. Despite that, he denied any player was targeted.

“No, not at all,” he protested. “I don’t know if you’re talking about Barton! “He seems to think he’s a bit of a player who puts his foot in but I certainly didn’t see any of that from him, not on the ball, not when the ball was there to be won.

“I saw a lot of shoving players around off the ball. That’s how it goes.

“He was moaning in the ref’s ear all the time and not happy about getting put to the floor.

But we’ll have more of the same when we go up to their place.” Barton, who created Andy Carroll’s 61st-minute equaliser from a free-kick, was in animated discussion with Wolves manager Mick McCarthy as he left the pitch at full-time, unhappy with the treatment he was singled out for.

“I was in having a drugs test at the time,” said Henry. “Something was going on, a lot of talk, a lot of moaning as usual. Not a lot to back it up with, though.

“I think his bark is worse than his bite ... no, I know so.” If Henry was scathing of Barton, the fifth Newcastle player booked by Stuart Attwell when he fouled Kevin Foley in the sixth added minute, he was more complimentary about team-mates Alan Smith and Carroll. “It was a big battle in there,” reflected Henry. “I knew with Smith and Barton it was going to be a physical battle, and we were certainly up for it as much as they were.

“I spoke to Smith a few times during the game, but I’ve got a lot of time for him.”

Carroll’s fourth goal this season cancelled out Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s opener, and Henry supported his claims for promotion to the full England side. “They’re a good side, Carroll especially,” he commented. “I watched the Man United game where he seemed to bully (Nemanja) Vidic every time he was near him. He’s a big strong lad and a powerful player. They’re not the same team that went down in terms of battling qualities and I’m sure they’ll be all right this year.

“He’s up there up among the likes of Kenwyne Jones, (Louis) Saha, he gave us as tough a time as any other striker has.

“I’m sure every club likes to have a targetman, we (England) have got (Peter) Crouch and that’s about it. If he keeps playing like this I don’t think it’ll be long before he’s doing it for England.”

Carroll was overlooked by Fabio Capello as he announced his squad last night for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been drawn to face Chelsea in the third round of the League Cup in the week beginning September 20.