It felt like a prizefight.
Trash talk is actually quite rare in football but the remarks uttered by Joey Barton in the build-up to his first Old Firm derby certainly fell into that category.
The Rangers midfielder suggested Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was going through a mid-life crisis and, when it came to Hoops captain Scott Brown, this is what Barton had to say.
“He ain’t in my league,” Barton told Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast in the summer. “He is nowhere the level I am as a player. He can’t get to me.
“If I play well, Scott Brown doesn’t stand a chance. That is not me being blasé. That is me just stating what I believe.”
Unfortunately for Barton, his first experience of one of the most ill-tempered derbies in world football did not go according to plan.
He found himself on the wrong end of a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Rodgers’ side and while he didn’t have the worst game, Celtic fans rushed to flood the Twitter notifications of the pantomime villain with reminders of what he’d said in recent months.
@Joey7Barton oryt mate. Thought u were playing at Celtic park today?
— Alan Cavanagh (@alcav90) September 10, 2016
Can't wait for @Joey7Barton's witty comebacks on twitter later. Can't be any worse than his performance today.#celticvrangers
— LuckyHamilton (@Lucky_Hamilton) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/jay_mckeever/status/774590144808685568
https://twitter.com/barryhillis/status/774590514737872897
Well done @Joey7Barton. Celtic's best player today #OldFirm
— sean mc veigh (@mcveigh_sean) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/Deasybhoy/status/774591058038624256
Strange that @Joey7Barton didn't get a game today
— Peter Graham (@pgtips16) September 10, 2016
How did you enjoy your first Glasgow Derby @Joey7Barton #hailhail #CELTIC #5-1 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
— Rónán McHugh (@silomchugh) September 10, 2016
Yo @Joey7Barton. Brown is a different league and don't you wish you had a mid-life crisis like Rodgers 😉😂
— Muireann🍀 (@muireannf) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/shaneod10/status/774591911520768000
Alright @Joey7Barton, what was the score today?
— Luke Addison (@AddisonLukas) September 10, 2016
So….@joey7barton…what league would you say Scott Brown is in now??
— Michelle Bulman (@lovesbiffy) September 10, 2016
Hahaha! I see @Joey7Barton is owning Brown in the #OldFirmDerby really showing him how it's done 😐😂👏
— Glenn Firmin (@GlennFirmin) September 10, 2016
No in my league ? @Joey7Barton pic.twitter.com/K0vr1s3DHj
— Simply [⭐] Celtic (@TheHoopsFan) September 10, 2016
Turns out you're right @Joey7Barton , we're not in your league but a considerable way above it. #anonymous #celticvrangers
— Gerrard O'Neill (@GerrardONeill) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/Caboblaney/status/774592982242750464
Ssssshhhhhh @Joey7Barton
— Eric Ryan (@ericpryan) September 10, 2016
Hey @Joey7Barton @murraybhoy88 and @Peterf945 thought u were making your old firm debut today.. Sorry u missed it @celticfc won 5-1 🍀☘🖕🏿🖕🏿
— Neill Doran (@NeillDoran) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/celticblue13/status/774593158424518656
