Joey Barton held up his hands for getting sent off with more than an hour to go against Hull.

But the contrite Rs captain insists his behaviour was no worse than Hull players trying to get rookie defender Darnell Furlong sent off.

What’s more, Barton reckons he was acting under ref Anthony Taylor’s orders.

“The ref said before the game if the players come in and start crowding, get in their and try and calm the situation down,” the player added.

“You’ve gone in there to try and calm the situation down, and a whole lot of players are pushing and shoving. It’s just a very, very stupid reaction from me.”

Barton saw red when he aimed a low prod at Hull’s Tom Huddlestone, but the Rangers midfielder claims City’s Alex Bruce has a lot to answer for.

Seeing red: Barton goes watched by Darnell Furlong

Young Furlong got a yellow for his challenge on Nikica Jelavic that sparked the fracas that ended with Barton’s early bath.

“There was no malice. I didn’t intend to hurt Tom,” added Barton.

“I’ve got a lot of time to reflect, and I don’t think the FA will rescind it, and I have to take it. I should know better.

“I’ve been guilty of a lot worse reactions, but you’ve got a young kid out there and senior pros shouldn’t be running over asking for him to be sent off.

“It’s far from malicious, and I wouldn’t be screaming for a 19-year-old from Hull to be sent off.

Protest: Barton gets support but to no avail

“Alex Bruce has run 40 yards to not only get in the ref’s face and scream for a red card, but barge me in the process.”

The 32-year-old now misses the games against Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, but reckons there is plenty of time to do his penance after the gutting 2-1 defeat.

“I’ve let the team down and apologised to everybody. I’ve come out and fronted up to hold up my hands and said I’ve made a mistake.

“I’ve got a lot of time to reflect, and I don’t think the FA will rescind it.

“I should know better as a 32-year-old with two or 300 Prem League appearances behind me. There’s a long way between now and the end of the season and I hope to atone for it. It’s all I can really do.”

“I’m a man of substance; a man of principle, and I know I’m going to get castigated, and I’ll just have to take it on the chin.”