Harry Maguire insists the referee made the correct decision in not sending him off during the first half of Manchester United's win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Slow-mo replays appeared to show Maguire kicking out at Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi after a challenge close to the dug-out.
The incident was checked for a possible red card by the video assistant referee but Anthony Taylor's on-field decision was upheld and United's captain was of the view that common sense prevailed.
"I knew I’d caught him but I thought he was falling so the natural reaction was to straighten my leg to hold him up if he was to fall on me," Maguire told Sky Sports.
"Obviously I've got studs on my boots and it probably looks worse than it was on TV. It wasn’t a kick out, there was no intention, it was just a natural reaction to straighten my leg and to hold him up. I think it was the right decision.
"I knew at the time I did catch him but I knew I had no intention to hurt him or kick him. I apologised to him but it was nice the referee’s seen sense."
On his goal, a second-half header from a Bruno Fernandes corner, Maguire added: "It's been a long time coming. Obviously I got the first goal against Tranmere with my feet but I've missed a lot of chances this year. I knew it was a matter of time before I scored one.
"Bruno [Fernandes] has helped with the nice delivery and hopefully there are many more to come from now until the end of the season."
