The former Newcastle United player has had plenty of brushes with Black Cats supporters down the years.
The ‘interesting’ relationship between Sunderland fans and Barton appears to be something the ex-Manchester City man is unwilling to let go of, judging by his comments every time he comes up against the North East club.
Barton is now managing Sunderland’s League One rivals Bristol Rovers having been sacked from his previous job at Fleetwood Town.
Indeed, the former Rangers and Burnley midfielder confirmed that he left Fleetwood Town following a bust-up with the club's chairman over transfers.
And the ever abrasive and always charming Barton also had a disagreement with striker Ched Evans before his departure to join Preston North End.
"A few players were at the end of their cycle - Ched Evans, I'd had enough of him. He just wasn't performing on the pitch and I felt we needed to improve in that position.”
Sunderland are two points off second-placed Peterborough United in the automatic promotion places and with a game in hand on Darren Ferguson's side and league-leaders Hull City.
Bristol Rovers, however, are stuck in a relegation dog fight and sit fourth-bottom in League One.
And ahead of the Black Cats clash with Barton’s Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, we’ve delved into the archives to find some of the one-time England international's attempts to goad Sunderland fans over the years – on everything from Simon Mignolet and Jack Ross to Paolo Di Canio.
17. Following Fleetwood Town and Sunderland's January draw, Barton said
“It was a tough game against Sunderland, and it is especially whenever you play against a side who has a stadium capacity bigger than the number of people in our town and you know it’s going to be difficult,” Photo: Alex Davidson
18. Ahead of a clash between Sunderland and Barton's old club Fleetwood at the Stadium of Light, he said:
“We are that stage where we are thinking, who is next? We go to Sunderland on Tuesday night with nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain," Photo: Jan Kruger
19. Following a 1-1 draw against Sunderland with Fleetwood, Barton said:
“You have to give Sunderland credit – they kept fighting and pushing. The fanbase drive them on, and they got their rewards. They’re trying as hard as we are to win a football match, and sometimes it doesn’t go your way, but it’s interesting for me to see Sunderland fans celebrating in the manner they did after drawing at home to Fleetwood Town.” Photo: Pete Norton
20. In the days following the 1-1 draw, Barton also said this:
“I love when I go to a stadium and the opposition fans aren’t focusing on their team, they’re not focusing on their players, they’re not focusing on my players – they’re focusing on me. That means energy – and energy is powerful if channelled correctly – is being wasted. Our players can focus on their performance. Why don’t they just ignore me? Leave me alone. I’d just go away and I wouldn’t have the same impact. But once they take me on, it’s like an endless energy source of inspiration." “Like the Sunderland fans, it was like a solar panel, absorbing the energy thinking ‘I’m going to need this for the next 12 games’. “Thanks for charging my batteries, thank you very much. I love it, I absolutely love the role. Photo: Lewis Storey