The 29-year-old bounced back after being booed of the pitch by his own supporters last month after a string of bad performances. Barton said: “I knew I’d bounce back. The supporters wanted more from me. I’m a strong character and I knew I would show people what I am capable of producing.”

The QPR Captain has now three times this season. It seems to be no coincidence that his recent break from Twitter lead to one of the midfielder’s best performances in a Rangers shirt.

His manager Mark Hughes was full of praise for his number seventeen: “I thought Joey was excellent, he came into the game really fresh and the goal topped off an excellent performance.”

As for QPR, they have given themselves a real chance of staying in the Top Flight next season. It was a massive win for the West London club, it was also their third win in a row at Loftus Road.

Rangers home form could be the key to survival, with trips to Chelsea and Manchester City still to come.

Next up for QPR is a trip to West Brom, which looks like being on the more winnable games in the remainder of the season.

It really is a fascinating relegation battle this season, Wolves look they could be doomed, so it could be two teams from four and is sure to go right to the wire.

Following the game, and angry Barton vented his frustration on Twitter, saying: “Well feel for the officials, they’ve been conned.

“Admitted to me at HT (half time) they never saw it. I was pulled back first, then kicked second! 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. Make your own minds up when you see it. The games gone!”

And QPR manager, Neil Warnock was not short of a few words either, suggesting after the game that the Norwich player had cheated.

Warnock said: “Joey could have avoided the situation, but it doesn’t warrant the reaction from Johnson.

“He has not been head-butted at all, not in a million years. The movement of him going backwards has conned the referee.

“To go back like he did was a disgrace. It’s getting a fellow pro sent off. I think he should be done (punished).”

It is likely that both Barton and Warnock will face further punishment from the FA for their comments which have been seen as a slur of the performance of the officials.

But Norwich’s Johnson may not be completely free of trouble himself, just yet. They FA may yet choose to punish him for his dramatics during the incident.

After the game, the Norwich players headed to Alexandra Palace to watch the darts World Championship final.

While there Johnson sparked further controversy when he was photographed holding up rather juvenile a sign which read: “Barton, your breath stinks.”

The FA are still awaiting the referee’s report from the game, and will decide in due course whether to take this matter any further.

What is true, however, is we are unlikely to have heard the last of this one just yet. Maybe everyone should just chill out with some poker gamesand relax?

In a typically-outspoken interview, Barton claims the players were not offered the usual bonuses afforded to Premier League players and they were treated instead like “subordinates at Sports Direct”. Anyone who follows the football odds won’t have been surprised to see Barton airing his views again.

“Newcastle, as a playing squad, were the only club in Premier League history not to sign a bonus sheet. It was unprecedented,” he said.

“We refused as a playing staff as they tried to railroad the players into signing a bonus sheet.

“In their opinion we were paid workforce. They thought we were Sports Direct and we should do what the subordinates at Sports Direct do, forgetting they were dealing with 20-odd egos, probably 10 self-sufficient men in a position to make a number of different judgements.

“Myself and the bigger name players at the time advised the playing staff because we were head of the playing committee not to sign the bonus sheet and that filtered back to boardroom level.

“It’s no coincidence that I was given away.”

Barton’s views are likely to be treated with disdain in the north-east as he continues to have a pop at the club which helped resurrect his career but he his steadfast in his view that he was let down with various promises going unfulfilled. The Premier League betting also suggests he has a big job on his hands in keeping his current side in the top flight.

Speaking to QPR podcast Open All R’s, he added: “They promised a number of different things and delivered on very few of them.

“At Newcastle I couldn’t take to the pitch and lie to the fans and be a part of it.

“You are doing it for yourself, the fans and the football club but if you fundamentally despise everything that the owners stand for it is very difficult.”

Barton, who in May 2008 was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for common assault and affray following an incident in Liverpool city centre, added: “I am a man of principles.”

Although these incident were reported by the press, Barton thinks that their footballing counterparts would have come off much worse if they demonstrated such behaviour.

He said: “The minute a footballer steps out of line, I think the media in this country – because of the sums of money they earn and also because of the stigma attached – are really quick to jump on it”.

“There is a lot of envy about what footballers earn, the astronomical figures,’ he added. ‘That’s not our fault.”

Given this, Barton believes that had the football team behaved in the same manner and then been defeated by a team they were expected to beat, there would have been “Public executions” when they got home. Those who follow the Betfair betting will know that unrealistic expectations are often place on the national side and this doesn’t help the public’s perception of them.

Barton also claimed that belief “football is a gentleman’s game played by thugs, and rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen” had been proven to be wrong by events at the World Cup.

The QPR man has made no secret of his desire to return to the national set up and has claimed on more than one occasion that if the side were picked on form alone he would have already added to his solitary cap.

However, anyone looking at the will know he seems unlikely to be selected for the side.

“Peter Hill-Wood said they never had any serious interest in me”, Barton continued. “I just don’t understand.” The QPR captain intimated that Arsenal had a communications ‘bottle-neck’ somewhere between Wenger’s mouth and the boardroom, which was keeping Hill-Wood in the dark, regarding affairs at the Gunners

Arsenal struggled with selection issues, following the sale of Samir Nasri to Manchester City, and Cesc Fabregas, to Barcelona. Although the pre-season betting suggested they would cope without their two stars, thing have fallen apart somewhat dramatically.

The issue seems to be a matter of personal pride for Barton, rather than an attempt to rekindle his brief relationship with Arsenal. Anyone following the online betting will know how poorly the North London side have done this season and Barton clearly thinks he could have made a difference.

Speaking in September, Barton noted that he had been in talks with the Gunners until their ill-fated match against Newcastle, on the first day of the 2011/12 season. The altercation between Barton and Gervinho, which took place during the fixture, was ostensibly, the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’, encouraging Wenger to cease his pursuit of the often-controversial midfielder.

Closer to the present, on Sunday, Barton intimated that he would handle the “Gervinho incident” differently, if he ever got the chance again, perhaps in a bid to secure the transfer to Arsenal. However, the 29-year-old says that he is content to remain at QPR, especially given their position in the league – above Wenger’s Arsenal.

Barton was unhappy with a challenge Henry made late in the game and the pair had to be pulled apart at the end of the match, before the argument continued off the pitch.

The QPR skipper accused the Wolves man of “trying to hurt people” and likened Henry to a “Sunday League player.

He didn’t stop there though, also having a dig at McCarthy, who had claimed that he rejected the chance to sign the former Newcastle man, with Barton saying on Twitter “don’t know what Mick has been smoking”.

Despite being the chance to respond, the Wolves manager decided to keep quiet over Barton’s remarks, but did come up with a genius line. McCarthy said: “I have my opinions but generally I keep them to myself. Opinions are like backsides. We’ve all got them but it is not always wise to air them in public.”

McCarthy though did defend his own player, describing Henry as “one of the best pros” he has ever worked with and that he has “never ever” gone out to hurt another player. Fans of football betting online may have their own views on that.

He added: “He has earned himself the right to play in the Premier League by his guts and determination and made himself a better player. He is a great guy.”

But the debate as to whether the former Newcastle man should be involved in the national team is never just a footballing dilemma, but should it be?

Barton has never tried to deny his misdemeanours off the pitch and his personality is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but no-one can deny his ability. However, pundits like Lee Dixon are split over whether he should be allowed to play for his country given his past.

The majority of the Newcastle supporters would concede that he was their best player last season and most were angry with the club’s hierarchy for not keeping the 29-year-old.

But the move to the capital may well turn out to be the best thing to happen for Barton’s career, as he targets a chance to wear the Three Lions.

Neil Warnock has already made the midfielder his captain and plans to build his team around the ex-Manchester City star – if QPR stay up, he will have played a big role. Fans of Betfair football should realise just how important he is to the club.

Players also seem more likely to catch the national team manager’s eye if they are based in London, although Barton may need to stay patient.

Fabio Capello does not appear to be the type of manager that would accept Barton’s straight talking and it may have to be a return to an Englishman at the helm for the QPR ace to get a call-up.

But Barton, who says he feels he has “something to offer” his country, won’t have to wait too long, with Capello due to leave after Euro 2012 – should England qualify.

The Hillsborough Disaster, in 1989, ended the lives of 96 Liverpool fans, and injured 766 others, when a ‘human crush’ developed on the terraces at the home of Sheffield Wednesday, Hillsborough. The incident, while widely publicised, even today, has never benefited from the release of official documents pertaining to the accident. “The truth about Hillsborough must come out”, Barton tweeted yesterday. Although many people interested in Premier League betting are not big fans of Barton, the petition will find favour with supporters everywhere.

Barton, has gained some renown on Twitter, for his outlandish statements, which include referring to the United States as a “fascist regime”, insulting Alan Shearer’s dress sense, and asking the “working class” to “unite”, and “take back what is ours”. While many people prefer just to follow the latest football odds, Barton’s Twitter feed has provided fans with a dubious form of entertainment.

Nevertheless, the midfielder has asked his 420,464 followers to sign an e-petition calling for the full disclosure of government literature relating to the Hillsborough accident. The petition has 46,799 signatures, as of 09:20 on Friday, including Piers Morgan and former Newcastle player, Michael Owen. However, Lady Gaga and Alan Sugar, two of the celebrities targeted by Barton, have yet to add their signatures to the e-petition.

Barton’s crusade has been applauded by fans in Liverpool. “Thank you for all you’re doing”, said Graeme Hammond, a Twitter user who lost his brother at Hillsborough, two decades ago.

Hammers boss, Sam Allardyce is keen to add the midfielder to his squad, with Barton and current West Ham player, Kevin Nolan having played so well together for Newcastle.

Barton publically criticised the Magpies’ board when they allowed Nolan to leave the club, but now may well be heading in the same direction.

Following Nolan’s switch, Barton tweeted: “Great player, leader, captain, person, trainer and mostly a friend for life.”

However, the former Manchester City man has hinted that he may well be prepared to stay at Newcastle, despite being made available.

But Barton, who is believed to be on a contract worth 80,000-per-week, could well be persuaded to change his mind for the opportunity to be reunited with Nolan.

Barton already owns a house in the Suffolk town of Newmarket, which is not far from the West Ham training ground.

It would be no surprise if Barton was to move on before the end of the transfer window, with Stoke City, Aston Villa and Manchester United all having been linked with moves.

As for West Ham; they have invested heavily this season, in a bid to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Having done well to hold on to some of their top stars, including Scott Parker, Carlton Cole and Robert Green, the Hammers have added to their squad.

Nolan has been joined at Upton Park by the likes of Matt Taylor and John Carew who both have vast Premier League experience.

Should Barton complete a move to West Ham, a move for Scott Parker could be back on, although as yet, no club has met the Hammers’ £8 million valuation of the England international.