Manchester United boss David Moyes has defended Wayne Rooney after the England international kicked out at Cardiff City's Jordan Mutch on Sunday night.

The 27-year-old starred in United's 2-2 draw in Wales this evening, scoring the opening goal before crossing for Patrice Evra to head home the second on the stroke of half time.

However, Rooney's contribution was preceded by a moment of controversy after the former Everton starlet appeared to lash out at Mutch, earning himself a yellow card from referee Neil Swarbrick.

Moyes does not believe that the incident merited a red card and claims that the challenge was borne out of frustration rather than an intention to injure the 21-year-old.

"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," the coach told Sky Sports News.

"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."

Frazier Campbell cancelled out Rooney's opening goal on the half-hour mark, before Kim Bo-Kyung struck in dying stages to earn the Welsh outfit a valuable point.

The Red Devils lose further ground on Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League, as Arsene Wenger's men sit seven points clear of the reigning champions.