Newcastle United badboy Joey Barton has lay the blame for his extraordinary and unnecessary challenge on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso at Anfield yesterday, squarely at the door of his friend and fellow Manchester City fan, Ricky Hatton.
Hatton was beaten senseless by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning, and, according to Newcastle boss, Alan Shearer, the result upset Barton so much, that he went into Liverpool match "liked a coiled spring".
Shearer has now fined Barton two weeks' wages - around £120,000 - but the long-term issue is how the Magpies boss is going to curb the temper of a player who has been given chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance after chance.
The beleaguered Newcastle boss, facing relegation if his side cannot turn things around against Middlesbrough at St James Park next Monday, said:
"Joey and Ricky are old muckers. He was bothered by seeing the sight of his mate go down so easily in Las Vegas, and took it out on the next foreigner he came across. We're running out of last chances."
