David Moyes says Wayne Rooney did not lash out at Jordon Mutch

Manchester United manager David Moyes has insisted that Wayne Rooney did not lash out at Cardiff City midfielder Jordon Mutch.

The striker was booked during Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium after appearing to kick the midfielder in the first half.

Moyes believes there was no malice towards Mutch and that referee Neil Swarbrick made the correct decision by opting to show Rooney a yellow card.

“The boy (Mutch) runs across his path and there’s a bit of a tussle, but I didn’t think it deserved any more than a yellow card,” said Moyes.

“I don’t think it was a lashing-out, I think it was more that he felt hard done-by with the boy running across his path with the ball.

“I didn’t think it was a lash out to cause any harm, I think it was more of a disappointment that he lost the ball.”

The Man U boss was disappointed with his side’s defending and was frustrated to see Cardiff midfielder Gary Medel escape punishment, after the Chilean appeared to hit United midfielder Marouane Fellaini in the face.

“If he slaps someone in the face, then you’d expect some action to be taken. We actually lost our concentration because we were set up for the freekick, the referee then spends a minute or so talking to everyone and then sets it back up.

“We still should do better but it gave them two bites of the cherry as they did actually deliver the first ball,” he added.

“It gave (Peter) Whittingham another chance to get his sighters in and he certainly put in a good ball.”