Kieran Freeman was braced for Reo Hatate ’s steaming challenge but the Dundee United man refused to join the stampede calling for the Celtic star to be sent off.
The Tannadice ace was clattered by the Hoops man in Monday night’s Scottish Cup defeat to Ange Postecoglou’s men.
It was still 1-0 to Celtic at the time and United fans howled for John Beaton to brandish a red card – with Terrors midfielder Calum Butcher getting hit with a retrospective two game ban for a similar lunge on David Turnbull when the sides met earlier this season.
Freeman resisted the call for a ban but admitted it was just as well he managed to come out unscathed.
The United star said: “I knew it was coming. I got the ball and tried to play it inside.
“These things happen. I’ll leave that to others to discuss. I was in the heat of the game and didn’t see too much.
“How much did he catch me? I’m not sure. I felt contact and it’s up to the referee to do whatever he thinks.
“I was down on the ground. I didn’t know what was happening around me and you can’t change that now.
“He gave the yellow and I don’t think it impacted on the game too much in the end.
“I had plenty of time to see that coming and it is what it is.”
Freeman didn’t see the Benji Siegrist gaffe coming though for Celtic’s crucial second goal.
The keeper spilled a Daizen Maeda cross to gift Giorgos Giakoumakis but no one in the Tannadice dressing room will point the finger.
Freeman said: “Benji has done a lot more good than he has done bad.
“He has saved so many points for us. He’s disappointed but there’s no reason for him to be. It’s not his fault at all.
“It happens to everyone. You see the top goalies and mistakes like that happen to them.
“You can trace it back a lot further up the pitch so it’s not just Benji’s fault for that goal.
“He’s a very good keeper and has done superbly well for us.
“I don’t think it’s in question that he has won more points than lost for us.
“It would be scary to think of how many points he has won for us. There’s no blame on Benji.
“He’ll already be looking forward to St Mirren on Saturday and putting it right as we all are.”
Freeman was gutted at the Scottish Cup exit but he insisted United can get stuck in to a thrilling end to the season with a top four place still up for grabs.
He said: “The season’s not over. There is plenty to play for.
“We are striving to get in the top six and have three games to do that.
“We can still have a good season. Fourth place is still absolutely achievable for us and that’s what we are looking to do.
“We’ve got three games left before the split. Every game is vital to us.
“We need to be going down to Paisley to pick up three points to put ourselves in a good position.
“First and foremost, getting in the top six would be a successful season.
“Anything else would be a huge bonus.
“We are still in the race for a top four finish with three games before the split.
“We would have taken that at the start of the season.”
United fans packed out three sides of Tannadice for the Celtic clash and Freeman wants the punters on board for the big push.
He said: “Hopefully our fans can back us like they did tonight and hopefully it’s a good Saturday down in Paisley.
“On a Monday night, given the ticket pricing, it was a really good effort from our fans.
“The Shed was pretty full to be fair. It’s just a pity we didn’t put on a better performance and get a result.
“Hopefully we’ll do that on Saturday and they can forget about the cup game.”
