Moyes said United were "playing" officials as well as the opposition" after Sunderland's 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light in the first leg of a League Cup semi-final on Tuesday condemned his side to three consecutive defeats for the first time in 13 years.

Moyes had previously seen his team lose by the same scoreline at home to Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City in the past week, leaving reigning champions United 11 points off the pace in the Premier League and out of the FA Cup.