Obafemi Martins the Newcastle hero - but Joey Barton the villain again

Oba Martins was the hero as Newcastle battled their way off the bottom of the Premier League.

But Joey Barton was at the centre of controversy again and was lucky to stay on the pitch. The midfielder could face trial by television after clipping Gabby Agbonlahor in the face. He was also booked for a studs-up tackle on Luke Young.

Martins struck in the 60th and 83rd minutes to give the Geordies plenty to celebrate after a hard-fought victory that left interim boss Joe Kinnear with no voice.

The bad news came when Barton pressed his fingers into Agbonlahor's face, an incident ref Steve Bennett missed. If the FA act, it could trigger his six-game suspended ban.

Former ref Graham Poll, a TV pundit, admitted Barton was lucky to stay on the field. He said: "Barton has tried to knock Agbonlahor's lip. He actually does strike the opponent - you can't deny it. He tries to do him.

"That is a red card and if the referee, Steve Bennett, had seen it, he would have sent him off without a doubt.

"And the second incident was a caution. The studs were up and yet he moaned at Bennett for the caution. He turns round and wags his finger at him but it is a yellow card. The problem is, is Joey learning?"

Barton didn't help matters at the final whistle either as he refused to shake referee Bennett's hand.

Kinnear's No.2 Chris Hughton said: "That is a big win. After a weekend in which results weren't kind to us we needed to get something."

On Barton, Hughton said: "Any incident will be blown up twice as big as it would be for any other player. He knows he has to be careful.

"Joe Kinnear's lost his voice. The time he has been here the results have gone well. That is all you can judge anyone on."

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