Mings adamant Ibrahimovic head stamp unintentional: 'I'd never do that'

The first half Saturday at Old Trafford will be remembered for a pair of violent incidents rather than the goals that saw Manchester United and Bournemouth enter the break tied 1-1.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings traded head shots in the final minutes of the first frame, with the United forward delivering a violent elbow to the Bournemouth defender's head in what appeared to be retaliation for a brutal stamp to the cranium.

Mings declared his innocence after the draw, insisting the incident was unintentional and that such an act is not part of his repertoire.

"Not at all," Mings told reporters, courtesy of ESPNFC, when asked if the stamp was intentional. "I would never do that. That's not in my game. Hard and fair is how I like to tackle but off the ball stuff like that isn't in my game.

"(brahimovic) is who he is, he's a good player, he's a physical player. I knew what sort of battle I was going to be in for coming here. And that's what we had all day, it was a battle.

"There was maybe an elbow when the ball came in after, I didn't see it, I felt it. But what happened after that with Surman getting sent off, I didn't see it."

Match official Kevin Friend somehow missed both incidents, which could have easily been worthy of straight reds.

Both incidents will likely be reviewed by the FA and could result in retrospective punishments for both players.