“The first half was excellent and we deserved to go in front, but we are instead left to rue the chances we would normally take.

“They were big moments in the game, hitting the post and Gabriel Agbonlahor missing a chance he’d usually score.

“But when they scored, it became a fatal blow, not just a setback.”

Martin O'Neill.


"The referee gave a free-kick and I was debating with him because I didn't think it was a free-kick. I thought it was a foul against me and I had hold of the ball. Their lad came across and barged me in the back. Nothing has gone on. People are making a mountain out of a molehill. Don't forget, with the referee and their assistants around and all the cameras, you know you cannot raise your hands these days, and at no stage have I done that."

Joey Barton gets his excuses ready.


"I have not spoken to Gabby. It was a day off for him on Tuesday because he has such a hectic schedule with Villa and his mobile has been turned off. I am aware that Villa are looking into the situation.”

Gabriel Agbonlahor’s agent Tim Webb.


"We are aware of the rumours circulating and have had a number of calls on the subject but it is difficult to comment any further on something that has no further substance to it. We take seriously any allegations of racist abuse and will obviously act accordingly if we receive any official complaint from Aston Villa.”

FA Statement.


“I don't want to talk about the situation. I don't know anything about it."

Joey Barton’s agent Willie McKay.


"Gaby doesn't want to talk about it and he doesn't want to press charges.”

Martin O’Neill.


“If something was said the boy [Agbonlahor] needs to come out and say it. Is he going to? I don't think so. He was the one who put his face right in front of Joey. This was nothing to do with racism.

"This is all getting a bit much. You [the press] must not have anything to write about. It's gutter journalism. Why aren't you writing that Joey made two Villa England midfielders look ordinary on only his second proper game back? And why has no one mentioned that the first player that Obafemi Martins [Newcastle's Nigerian striker] embraced after scoring was Joey? These things go on all the time on football pitches. It has only been blown up because it's Joey Barton."

Joey Barton’s agent Willie McKay.


"The FA would like to hear what sort of comments we have to make on an official basis.

“That's fine, if we have a couple of days to have a look at things, then that's exactly what we'll do."

Martin O’Neill.


"None of this is going away.”

“What happened the other night [against Villa] was unfortunate but the thing with Joey is that he has a good character. But Joey's a kid, he acts on instinct, he doesn't plan. And he's so competitive. [But] like all competitors he risks overstepping the mark."

Newcastle caretaker manager Joe Kinnear.


"The FA wrote to Aston Villa this morning to ask for any information the club could provide regarding allegations reported in today's media of remarks made by Joey Barton to Gabriel Agbonlahor during Villa's match against Newcastle on Monday.

”The club have responded to inform us that they have no complaints to make. On this basis the FA will not be pursuing this matter."

FA Statement.