Barton still reffing mad
New career but the same old controversy from Joey
FLEETWOOD manager Joey Barton couldn’t resist complaining about the refeee as he took his first steps in management.
The 35- year- old former midfielder, frustrated by his team’s performance on the opening day, claimed Joe Pigott’s winning goal for Wimbledon was offside.
‘I don’t want to be critical of referees because it’s far too early in my managerial career to do that,’ said Barton. ‘But we did feel the striker was offside in the build-up. Having looked at it back, two of them were offside, not one.’
Barton, in white T-shirt, navy chinos and white pumps, l ooked dressed for a stroll to the beach rather than to the dugout.
Admitting he misses the buzz of playing, he said: “At about quarter to three we were smelling the Deep Heat and the smelling salts and all that and it kind of brings you back to your playing days.
‘I’d love to have gone out there with the lads but managing is the next best thing.”
Barton’s mostly relaxed demeanour in the technical area was at odds with the aggression he was known for as a player. It was only when his side fell behind that he became more agitated.
Barton wants his team to play a patient, passing style of football by playing it out from the back but they were caught out by a more direct Wimbledon when Pigott prodded t he ball home af t er Fleetwood failed to clear a cross.
The closest his side came to scoring was in the 83rd minute when Bobby Grant’s long-range drive hit the inside of the post.
Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley said: ‘All round it was a very solid, decent performance. The only criticism is that we did not take those couple of chances in the last couple of minutes.’
LIAM HOGAN’S late own goal earned Leyton Orient a 1-1 draw and denied Salford victory in their first Vanarama National League game. Rory Gaffney volleyed home for Salford early in the second half, but Graham Alexander’s side came under pressure and Hogan deflected the ball into his own net at the death. Salford have won three promotions in four seasons and will view this as an encouraging start to the season.