Manchester United manager David Moyes insisted there are “no excuses” after his Red Devils slumped to their fourth defeat in six home games.
The 2-1 Old Trafford defeat by Swansea yesterday meant United exited the FA Cup at the third-round stage for only the second time in 30 years.
Wilfried Bony’s last-minute header was enough to give the visitors victory after Javier Hernandez had equalised Wayne Routledge’s opener.
Though United were without seven senior players, including Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, and had substitute Fabio Da Silva sent off just four minutes after his introduction in the second-half following an injury to Rio Ferdinand, Moyes did not try to defend the situation.
“No (not an excuse to have seven players out),” said Moyes. “We have another big game in 48 hours time, so we had to keep that in mind but there are no excuses. We had a very strong team out. Just about every player on the pitch was an international.”
Yet again, it was not just the defeat which shocked observers. The tame manner in which United were turfed out of the competition was just as stunning.
For all they dominated possession following Hernandez’s equaliser, United barely created a clear-cut opportunity of note and once Fabio had departed for a lunge at Jose Canas, the worst always seemed possible.
“It was a sending-off,” said Moyes. “It changed the game. Without getting the second goal I felt relatively comfortable. We don’t come away thinking we deserved to lose, but we did.”
Moyes conceded confidence is becoming an issue for his players, who face Swansea at Old Trafford in the Premier League this weekend.
“You can see we are lacking that little bit of confidence when we get into the final third at times,” he said.
“We need to get back to winning ways and be hard to play against. Most importantly, we need to take something out of the good play we have had in games.
“It has been a tough start. I am disappointed we have not won more games but it will change I have no doubt about that.
“My job is to find a way of winning. It doesn’t matter what style you have to find a way of winning.”
Ferdinand looks set to join an already lengthy injury list, merely heightening the expectation of new faces arriving during this month’s transfer window.
Yet, Moyes, whose team is seventh in the Premier League and visit Sunderland for a Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg encounter tomorrow, has cautioned against over-optimism on new signings.
“I have said I will try to get players but it will probably be doubtful in January. I have said that quite consistently,” he said.