The Rangers skipper had fired his team into an 11th-minute lead at Loftus Road on Monday, only to then lose his cool following a tussle with Bradley Johnson, when he appeared to headbutt the Norwich midfielder. After consultation with the assistant, Barton was shown a red card by referee Neil Swarbrick. The QPR captain used Twitter to hit out at the "ridiculous decision", claiming the officials had been "conned" by Johnson, as Norwich went on to take all three points after goals from Anthony Pilkington and substitute Steve Morison. Warnock admitted he was in two minds about whether to take the case up with the Football Association's disciplinary panel, with Barton set for an automatic three-match ban. "I have not got any confidence in the appeals procedure," the QPR boss said. "When [Wolves manager] Mick McCarthy appeals and does not get that lad [Nenad Milijas] off, you have got to worry about anything appealing. "We will have to look and see what the referee says [in his report] and if there are any other angles, but from every one I have seen, I don't see a headbutt. "But I am not optimistic. We will have to decide later." Warnock added: "Joey could have avoided the situation, but it doesn't warrant the reaction from Johnson. "He has not been headbutted at all, not in a million years. The movement of him going backwards has conned the referee. "To go back like he did was a disgrace. It's getting a fellow pro sent off. I think he should be done (punished)." Barton was hopeful an appeal would be lodged. He said on Twitter: "Hopefully referee sees it retrospectively and sees he's been conned. Its no consolation for us right now but at least its something. "Feel for the officials, they've been conned. Admitted to me at HT they never saw it. I was pulled back 1st, then kicked 2nd. "Linesman definitely never saw it, all he seen was Johnsons reaction. My head dosent move forward at all. Ridiculous decision seen 25 replays. "I'd be 1st to apologise if I'd reacted. Cannot apologise as I know I've not head butted anyone." The defeat was an eighth in the last 11 for Rangers, who are hovering just outside the relegation zone. Warnock named on-loan Manchester United striker Federico Macheda among the substitutes and is expected to do more business in the January transfer window. The QPR manager said: "We will regroup, hopefully get a couple of players and then look forward to the second half of the season." In the end, Norwich were good value for their victory, which was hard-earned after keeper John Ruddy pushed Adel Taarabt's free-kick onto the post before Morison's 83rd-minute strike sealed victory. The Canaries were promoted behind QPR from the Championship last season, and have exceeded all expectations to sit comfortably in mid-table. Norwich manager Paul Lambert knows there are plenty more challenges ahead over the next five months. "We will take one game at a time now, and if this club survives in its first year, it will be monumental for us," he said.
