Birmingham City defender Liam Ridgewell has defended his tackle on Theo Walcott earlier in the month. The Blues stopper went in hard on Walcott in the Premier League game against Arsenal in October, and although he won the ball fairly, received criticism for the ferocity of the tackle from certain quarters.
"I was sliding in from behind, getting the ball. My momentum carried me through," Ridgewell told the Birmingham Mail.
"He's a fellow professional, a young Englishman, and I wouldn't intentionally try to hurt anyone, especially someone you want to go and help win the World Cup for us basically.
"It's a pity such a big thing was made of it. He didn't come out and say anything, I didn't come out and say anything and it was just disappointing that certain people - who had nothing to do with it - said stuff.
"The main thing for me was to just get a tackle in, and it was there, the ball was there to be won. I think maybe that's what it was, a lot was made because of what happened (with Taylor).
"It's a pity it keeps getting brought up. Sadly, I think that's the way football is."