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Newcastle - Joey Barton could face an English FA probe after the Newcastle midfielder was caught on camera punching Morten Gamst Pedersen during his side's 2-1 defeat against Blackburn at St James' Park.
Barton collided with Pedersen in an off the ball incident in the second half on Wednesday and then knocked the Norway international to the turf with a punch to the ribs.
Referee Mike Jones didn't see the incident so Barton escaped punishment, but the FA may well investigate and could hand the midfielder a retrospective suspension.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton said he had not seen the clash, while Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce refused to be drawn on the incident but he hinted he wouldn't be surprised to see action taken against Barton, who has been involved in several controversial incidents on and off the field during his troubled career.
"I'm not really going to talk about that because I don't want to detract from our victory. Whoever will see it will see it and do whatever needs to be done," Allardyce said.
Allardyce was more concerned with savouring a win over Newcastle on his first return to the club since being sacked.
He was relieved of his duties at St James' Park in January 2008 after just eight months in charge.
Pedersen had given Blackburn the lead before Andy Carroll underlined his growing reputation with a headed equaliser.
Rovers substitute Jason Roberts sealed the points with an 82nd-minute winner, drawing praise from Allardyce who said: "Our match-winner at the moment is Jason Roberts.
"He was nearly our match-winner against Chelsea, he was our match-winner against Wigan and he made the goal for himself again today, and he won us the game.
"It was a fantastic victory for us, a really pleasing one for us all and one I think in the end, we deserved.
"We changed the system to cope with the attack of Newcastle United.
"The very potent front two and the delivery from the wide men has been an outstanding force for them in the last three games, and we felt we had to stop that."
Hughton added: "Frustrated is probably the word that comes to mind because overall, was it a game we deserved to lose? I would say categorically no, it wasn't.
"Sam came with a side that played five at the back, four in midfield and one up front to make life difficult for us.
"That being the case, you have got to be a good enough side in possession and you have got to create enough chances.
"The game hinged on not the opportunities that they created, it was more our own downfall, two errors that we made which they capitalised on."
Barton collided with Pedersen in an off the ball incident in the second half on Wednesday and then knocked the Norway international to the turf with a punch to the ribs.
Referee Mike Jones didn't see the incident so Barton escaped punishment, but the FA may well investigate and could hand the midfielder a retrospective suspension.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton said he had not seen the clash, while Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce refused to be drawn on the incident but he hinted he wouldn't be surprised to see action taken against Barton, who has been involved in several controversial incidents on and off the field during his troubled career.
"I'm not really going to talk about that because I don't want to detract from our victory. Whoever will see it will see it and do whatever needs to be done," Allardyce said.
Allardyce was more concerned with savouring a win over Newcastle on his first return to the club since being sacked.
He was relieved of his duties at St James' Park in January 2008 after just eight months in charge.
Pedersen had given Blackburn the lead before Andy Carroll underlined his growing reputation with a headed equaliser.
Rovers substitute Jason Roberts sealed the points with an 82nd-minute winner, drawing praise from Allardyce who said: "Our match-winner at the moment is Jason Roberts.
"He was nearly our match-winner against Chelsea, he was our match-winner against Wigan and he made the goal for himself again today, and he won us the game.
"It was a fantastic victory for us, a really pleasing one for us all and one I think in the end, we deserved.
"We changed the system to cope with the attack of Newcastle United.
"The very potent front two and the delivery from the wide men has been an outstanding force for them in the last three games, and we felt we had to stop that."
Hughton added: "Frustrated is probably the word that comes to mind because overall, was it a game we deserved to lose? I would say categorically no, it wasn't.
"Sam came with a side that played five at the back, four in midfield and one up front to make life difficult for us.
"That being the case, you have got to be a good enough side in possession and you have got to create enough chances.
"The game hinged on not the opportunities that they created, it was more our own downfall, two errors that we made which they capitalised on."
