Queens Park Rangers lodge Joey Barton appeal

Queens Park Rangers have confirmed that they have lodged an appeal with the Football Association against the red card that Joey Barton received yesterday afternoon.

The QPR skipper was handed his marching orders in the 36th minute following a clash with Norwich City midfielder Anthony Pilkington.

The pair touched heads in the centre circle before Pilkington pulled away, indicating that he had been butted by Barton.

After consultation with his assistant, referee Neil Swarbrick decided that the 29-year-old's actions warranted a red card.

Barton later claimed that Swarbrick had been "conned", while his manager Neil Warnock insisted that the linesman had "guessed".

The visiting Canaries left Loftus Road with all three points despite Barton putting QPR in front.