Manchester United 2 - 2 Cardiff City

Kim Bo-kyung heads home a dramatic last-gasp equaliser for Cardiff City against Manchester United. Picture: Getty

MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes and his Cardiff counterpart Malky Mackay last night played down controversy surrounding Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United striker appeared lucky to avoid a red card during an entralling 2-2 draw in Wales.

Substitute Kim Bo-kyung struck in stoppage time yesterday to earn Cardiff a deserved point against the English champions, but much of the post-match talk surrounded Rooney, who scored United’s opening goal but was only booked for lashing out at Jordon Mutch during the early exchanges.

The England forward kicked midfielder Mutch in the eighth minute before lashing out with his left hand as his run was blocked off.

However, Moyes said of referee Neil Swarbrick’s decision to brandish only a yellow card: “I think Mutch runs across his path and runs down the line of the ball and I think Wayne’s half in motion, I don’t think it is any more than a booking, that’s for sure.”

Mackay said: “I have looked at it again and some referees might send him off, but I thought overall Neil Swarbrick had a good game and I think he handled it well.

“I think it was two teams who were tough and committed and there were some tasty challenges throughout the whole game. But I think his handling of the game was reasonably good.”

However, former Liverpool and Rangers manager Graeme Souness did not share the opinion of the two managers when it came to Rooney’s clash with Mutch. Speaking from a television studio, he said: “He should be off, there’s no argument. Why the ref has given him a yellow card is beyond me.