Joey Barton: 'Queens Park Rangers deserve to go down'

Joey Barton has admitted that Queens Park Rangers deserve to be relegated from the Premier League following their 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City.

The R's were blown away at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, bringing an end to their stay in the top flight.

Having struggled at the wrong end of the table all season, Barton concedes that QPR can have no complaints with falling into the second tier of English football.

"Gutted for everyone involved with the football club. Today was embarrassing but it's not been good enough since July," he tweeted. "You get out of life what you put in. Hurts to say but the league table does not lie. We don't deserve to stay in this league.

"We have to finish our last two games with integrity and as a club come back stronger for this painful experience. Sorry to all the fans who have spent their hard earned money supporting us up and down the country all season. I feel what you feel."

QPR play their final home game of the season on May 16 when they welcome Barton's former club Newcastle United to Loftus Road.