Barton takes first steps on road to redemption with plucky penalty

JOEY Barton wasted little time in dedicating his first goal at St James' Park to all the people he has let down.

The 26-year-old Newcastle midfielder, pilloried by the nation and pelted with missiles on his return to action at Sunderland at the weekend, has been left in little doubt as to the task he faces as he attempts to rehabilitate himself both on and off the pitch.

That he knows he deserves much of what has already come and will come his way in the future does not make the task any easier.

However, he took one small step along the way to repairing the damage he has done to his own reputation and that of the club which paid 5.8million for his services by setting them on the road to a vital Barclays Premier League victory over West Brom on Tuesday night.

Barton's ninth-minute penalty – he grabbed the ball and smashed it past Baggies keeper Scott Carson even though Obafemi Martins had been nominated for any spot-kicks – set up the Magpies for what proved to be a nervy 2-1 victory, and he could hardly have been more pleased.

He said: "That was for all our fans and all the people I have let down. My only wish now is that it is the first of many. Once the referee pointed to the spot, I really fancied it – although I know a lot of the other players did as well. It was never an issue. I am always one to step up to the plate.

"One thing that can never be levelled at me is that I have lacked courage.

"Through my own stupidity, I have had to come back from things, and that has shaped me for what I have got to do."

Barton has also been praised by the Professional Footballers' Association for responding to his critics in the best way possible – on the pitch.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "Without any shadow of a doubt that is the right way to go about it, the football world will be pleased if he carries on doing well on the pitch. It was a good start against West Brom and we hope that continues."

Taylor has backed Barton to overcome the hostile reception that he is certain to face at away grounds.

"Football crowds have banter with their opposition, that is the fun of the sport, as long as it isn't vindictive and over the top," Taylor added. "Sometimes it is best to leave it to stewards and the club concerned to deal with it when it is over the top, and not look to create a reaction or cause trouble."

Barton's timing could not have been much better, with his first start since being released from jail coming as the club attempted to shake off the disappointment of derby defeat and prevent their season from spiralling further out of control.

In truth, they might have already been ahead before he struck had Carson not produced a fine reaction save to deny Martins, and although opposite number Shay Given had to make an important 35th-minute stop to deny James Morrison an equaliser, the game should have been won by the break.

It was, effectively, when Martins headed home Habib Beye's driven 42nd-minute cross, but the home fans among a crowd of 45,801 had not accounted for a second-half fightback by West Brom which only just came up short.

Substitute Ishmael Miller pulled a goal back with 25 minutes remaining, and might have doubled his tally eight minutes later had it not been for Given's block.

But a combination of committed, if at times haphazard, defending and good fortune saw the Magpies through to just their second league victory of the season and lifted them out of the relegation zone.

Barton, who was named man of the match by the sponsors, said: "Perhaps I got the award because I picked up a bit of the sentimental vote. But individual awards and club plaudits are not really for me.

"It is more important that Newcastle United get the success it deserves and craves, and if we win 2-1 and I don't score or get the man of the match award, I would take that every time."

Skipper for the night Given was delighted to have played his part in a hugely important win.

He said: "I couldn't remember what it felt like to win a game, to be honest. We really felt it was a big chance for us to get a victory.

"We are nowhere near out of trouble, but it's nice to be out of the bottom three, and hopefully we can get some confidence from this."

But if there was a sense of relief on Tyneside on the final whistle, there was disappointment within the West Brom camp as manager Tony Mowbray was once again left to bemoan missed chances.

He said: "You watch the team in the second half and it gives you confidence we will be fine this season, and I am sure we will be.

"We have just got to be more clinical in the final third. The way we play, the way we can retain the ball and push teams back, we have got to stick the ball in the net. Either the ones we have at the club do that, or I will go and find somebody in January who can do it."

Kinnear, meanwhile, is keen to hang on to his job at Newcastle – whoever owns the club.

The 61-year-old tasted victory for the first time in his four-match reign and the three points lifted Newcastle out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

But if things on the pitch are starting to turn, the uncertainty off it remains with owner Mike Ashley still looking to sell, and the interim manager does not know how long his stay will last.

He said: "I go from day to day, to be honest. If it gets sold, it will be up to the new owner. I am only on a month-to-month contract, that was the deal before I took over.

"I am well aware I took over because lots of people turned that contract down, but as we go on, I live like everyone else, day to day.

"I have got no idea who is going to buy the place, but I can throw my hat in the ring whoever buys it. I am not going to get another chance like this.

"But I really don't know, to be honest. I know it is obviously for sale, but who is going to buy it, I have got no idea."