Manchester United manager David Moyes claimed that his side were being unfairly treated by referees after they slumped to defeat at Sunderland in their League Cup semi-final first leg.
A second-half penalty from on-loan Liverpool forward Fabio Borini gave the home side a 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday and condemned United 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 United 11 points off the pace in the Premier League and out of the FA Cup.
The Scot was angry with referee Andre Marriner for awarding a free-kick against Jonny Evans in the build-up to Sunderland's opener, which saw Ryan Giggs turn the ball into his own net in first-half stoppage time.
"We defended a terrible free-kick, but how the referee has given a free-kick for that is way beyond me," Moyes said.
"I just cannot see how that is a free-kick."
Nemanja Vidic equalised for United early in the second half, only for Marriner to award Sunderland a penalty after Tom Cleverley was adjudged to have impeded home substitute Adam Johnson.
Again, Moyes was unimpressed by the decision.
"We are all just laughing at them at the minute," he said.
"It looks as though we are having to play them (officials) as well as the opposition at the moment."
With their league title defence on the rocks, the return leg on January 22 may represent Moyes's only chance of salvaging a domestic trophy from his maiden campaign.
As if to illustrate the heights from which the club have slipped this season, Moyes's predecessor Alex Ferguson was present at the Stadium of Light, along with club greats Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson.
However, when asked if he felt under pressure to reach the final, Moyes replied: "None whatsoever.
"This is a two-legged game and I'm actually really looking forward to this second leg now."
Moyes drew encouragement from the performance of winger Adnan Januzaj, who tormented Sunderland throughout with his direct running and came close to snatching a late equaliser on three occasions.
"We'll do everything we can to try and get it right," Moyes said.
"The players put in a strong performance tonight (Tuesday), it just didn't quite come off. But it's not far away and it's coming, I can sense it.
"You just need to look at the performance of Adnan Januzaj tonight. He was terrific. He put in a great job and played really well."
Having eliminated Chelsea in the previous round, Sunderland remain on course to reach a first domestic cup final since 1992, when they lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup final.
"It would be massive (to reach the final)," manager Gus Poyet told Sky Sports.
"You don't get there too many times. It's many, many years from the last one, so we will try our best."
Poyet also heralded the contribution of Johnson, who added verve to the home side's play after being sent on in the 56th minute.
"I'm so pleased," said the Uruguayan. "Today, he made my day because we were desperate for him to do well. Today, he changed the game for us."
However, with Sunderland still bottom of the Premier League table, Poyet expressed hope that their impressive cup form would translate into improved performances in the league.
"That is something I need to find out, why we are capable somehow of beating top teams and being so clinical in the cup, and we cannot do the same in the league," he said.
"I need to find the reason because if not, something is happening, it's mental. But I need to find that reason."
AFP
Wed Jan 08 2014
AFP Photo
Biden kekal tidak sokong pencerobohan di Rafah
Mesej itu disampaikan menerusi perbualan telefon dengan Perdana Menteri Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu pada Ahad.
Biden kekal tidak sokong pencerobohan di Rafah
Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Joe Biden bercakap dengan Perdana Menteri Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, pada Ahad.
Tiga perkara perlu dilakukan bagi elak kemusnahan di Gaza
Presiden Palestin Mahmoud Abbas menyuarakan tiga perkara yang perlu diberikan pertimbangan masyarakat dunia dan mengiktiraf Palestin sebagai negara merdeka termasuk ahli penuh Persatuan Bangsa Bangsa Bersatu (PBB). Beliau berkata demikian di Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) di Riyadh hari ini.
Delegasi Hamas ke Kaherah bincang gencatan senjata
Satu delegasi Hamas akan melawat Kaherah untuk rundingan yang bertujuan untuk mendapatkan gencatan senjata, pada Isnin.
37 juta tan serpihan runtuhan di Gaza - UNMAS
Pusingan konflik Palestin-Israel yang bermula pada Oktober 2023 telah meninggalkan kira-kira 37 juta tan serpihan runtuhan di Semenanjung Gaza.
WCK sambung misi bantuan di Gaza
World Central Kitchen (WCK) menyambung semula operasi di Semenanjung Gaza, pada Isnin.
Protes di universiti A.S tidak tunjuk tanda perlahan
Protes di universiti Amerika Syarikat tidak menunjukkan tanda perlahan pada hujung minggu dengan lebih banyak tangkapan di kampus dan pertempuran singkat antara penunjuk perasaan pro-Israel dan pro-Palestin di UCLA California.
Banjir ragut 76 nyawa di seluruh Kenya
Daerah Nairobi terjejas teruk akibat banjir dengan hampir 17,000 isi rumah dipindahkan.
Nahas skuter elektrik meningkat di Jepun selepas peraturan dilonggar
Dalam tempoh enam bulan sejak Julai lepas, 85 nahas lalu lintas melibatkan skuter elektrik dicatatkan dan mengakibatkan 86 kecederaan.
Mohamed Khaled tiba di Indonesia untuk lawatan rasmi, dijadual bertemu Prabowo
Menteri Pertahanan tiba di Jakarta pada Ahad untuk lawatan kerja rasmi sulung beliau ke Indonesia sejak memegang jawatan itu.
COVID-19: Kelonggaran sekatan baharu di UK
Setakat ini kerajaan UK belum ada data jelas mengenai keberkesanan vaksin COVID-19 terhadap gelombang jangkitan baharu.
EU pertahan Itali larang eksport vaksin di luar blok
EU menegaskan tindakan itu adalah bagi memastikan pengeluar vaksin AstraZeneca memenuhi komitmennya kepada mereka.
COVID-19: Sekatan Scotland bermula Sabtu, kekal larangan ke UK
Wales dan Scotland mengesahkan terdapat jangkitan mutasi baharu di negara mereka, sama seperti yang ditemui di London dan Selatan England.
COVID-19: Perintah berkurung kedua Britain terima reaksi berbeza
Ada segelintir menyifatkan perintah berkurung itu perlu dari sudut kesihatan, namun terdapat juga yang memberi amaran penutupan kali kedua ini bakal memberi kesan besar kepada perniagaan.
COVID-19: Sekatan sebulan di Britain mungkin dilanjutkan - Menteri Kanan Kabinet
Katanya, sekatan nasional perlu dilaksanakan bagi memastikan sistem kesihatan tidak mengalami tekanan dan penularan COVID-19 masih mampu dikawal.
Al Jazeera English sedia bertemu wakil Kerajaan Malaysia
Organisasi berita yang berpangkalan di Qatar itu memaklumkan ia hanya melaporkan apa yang berlaku.
COVID-19: Video pendek bahasa isyarat untuk golongan cacat pendengaran
Bagi OKU pendengaran tidak tercicir mendapatkan maklumat penting COVID-19, beberapa jurubahasa isyarat dan individu pekak menghasilkan video pendek untuk komuniti itu.
EPL: Liverpool dimalukan Watford dengan kekalahan 3-0
Ini merupakan kekalahan pertama Liverpool pada musim ini selepas 28 perlawanan.
Laporan kedudukan Malaysia dalam penguasaan bahasa Inggeris bukan cerminan sebenar
Malaysia berada di kedudukan ketiga di peringkat Asia dalam kemahiran penguasaan bahasa Inggeris.
Ucapan selamat tinggal itu sukar - Pengajar ETA
Bailey berkata beliau terpaksa mencuba pelbagai cara yang menarik dan kreatif bagi meraih penglibatan pelajar dan akhirnya mendapati cara yang lebih mudah.