Oh no Joe

His first game back after several months out with a foot injury and what does Joey Barton do? Yes, the Newcastle midfielder receives a straight red card for a challenge on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, however that's not all.

The 26-year old has now been banned by the North East club until further notice for the tackle which Alan Shearer described as "stupid" at the time. The club who look destined for the Championship had this to say : "Joey Barton has been suspended from the club until further notice. The club will be making no further comment at this time."

You may remember me saying a few weeks ago that I thought Joey Barton could be the man to help save the Magpies from the drop. Well how wrong was I?

So what now for the former England international?

Well, I can't see him remaining a Newcastle player for too much longer. Despite all the bad press he gets, I still think he is quite a decent player. He had one or two outstanding years at Manchester City and if he can reproduce that kind of form, as well as keeping his mouth shut, I feel he would be a cracking signing for anyone of the promoted sides, i.e Birmingham or Wolves.

What do you think? Was the tackle really that bad? Are Newcastle right to ban Barton? Comments below please.

Wolves & Birmingham are up, but who will be joining them in the Premier League?

Today saw the Championship season come to a close, with Birmingham City booking their place alongside Wolves in the Premier League next season.

With both those sides now up, that leaves just one more team to join them out of four. The four clubs to book their place in this season's play-off's are Sheffield United, Reading, Burnley and Preston, however only one can go up, so who will it be.

Looking at the table, you would have to fancy Kevin Blackwell's Sheffield United to go up, being the side who finished just outside the top two, however it is often the case that the side who finishes 3rd don't go up.

Steve Coppel's Reading will look to make their stay in the Championship quite brief, having only been relegated from the top flight last year. They will now face 5th place Burnley, who, as we all know, have done tremendously well in the cup competitions this season. Owen Coyle's men saw off the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal on route to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup earlier this season, so a repeat of those kind of performances may see them to play-off glory.

Alan Irvine's Preston complete the line-up for this season's Championship play-off's. To say Preston squeaked into the final play-off spot would be a massive understatement. They made it in on goals scored, not even goal difference. Overall, Preston scored just one more goal than Cardiff City and ultimately it is they who go forward to face Sheffield United later this month.

So who do you think will join Wolves and Birmingham in the line-up for the 2009/2010 Premier League season. If I had to pick someone, I would probably say Burnley. The play-off's always provide some memorable matches and I'm sure this season will be no different. Comments below please.