Joey Barton's performance against Lincoln on Saturday afternoon will end up as a mere footnote due to the magnitude of the result.
Lincoln became the first non-league side in over a century to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and to accomplish such a feat, they had to hold off Premier League side Burnley.
Having already been involved in some full-blooded tackles throughout the game, Barton drew criticism from many on social media for an apparent stamp on Lincoln' forward Matt Rhead.
'Premier League' player Joey Barton attempting to get a National League player sent off by cheating twice. What a top bloke. #BURLIN #FACup pic.twitter.com/dB5E1s0Scy
— Carl Jones (@CarlDJones) February 18, 2017
After the alleged stamp, Barton made contact with Rhead's arm and fell to the floor clutching his head.
He took to Twitter after the game to defend himself and said he was trying to disrupt the opposition player.
"Wasn't trying to get the Big Man sent off," he tweeted. "It was my job to front screen and disrupt him. Was trying to get back in front of him.
"Tried to duck under his arm and he moved it back and hit me on the head. Contact is part of the game, no problem with that.
"Unlike their player saying he was kicked on the floor and also the one who jumped and held his face as if he'd been struck.
"But that wouldn't make a good story would it. Fair Play to Lincoln. They where well organised and that's Cup football. Good luck in nxt rd [sic]."
Wasn't trying to get the Big Man sent off. It was my job to front screen and disrupt him. Was trying to get back in front of him. (1)
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) February 18, 2017
Tried to duck under his arm and he moved it back and hit me on the head. Contact is part of the game, no problem with that. (2)
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) February 18, 2017
Unlike their player saying he was kicked on the floor and also the one who jumped and held his face as if he'd been struck. (3)
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) February 18, 2017
But that wouldn't make a good story would it. FairPlay to Lincoln. They where well organised and that's Cup football. Good luck in nxt rd.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) February 18, 2017
