The young player knows what he is doing, the risk he is taking against his own team and the risk of injury to others.
To say I didn't mean to injure the guy is no excuse. His foot was not just high but ridiculously high.
Warnock saying in the interview that he didn't mean to do it was him being embarrassed about having a go at the kid at the final whistle I think.
Warnock's reaction, he lost the game and will pick on what he sees as a pivotal point either as a smokescreen for a poor performance or because it was justified and caused the loss.
I didnt see the game but his disappointment seems reasonable.