Speaking in the Sunday People, Carlton said "It might have looked vicious and some of the lads said it looked like I was going to 'do' him but, hand on heart, it was nothing like that. I'm a fair player and to say I deliberately set out to hurt an opponent is ridiculous and a slur on my good name."
When asked about what really happened, Cole replied "I caught him in the face with an elbow as I went up for a header, but it was an accident.
"I didn't even realise he was there, but my elbow caught him as I went up to try and win the ball."