Sunderland ensures the agony goes on for David Moyes

MANCHESTER United's season of humiliation has slipped further towards crisis.

MANCHESTER United's season of humiliation slipped further towards crisis today as a third consecutive defeat left them fighting to stay in the Capital One Cup, a competition they once would have viewed with apathy.

Beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the first leg of their semi-final, United have lost three games in succession for the first time since 2001, when they had already guaranteed their third Barclays Premier league title in as many years under Sir Alex Ferguson. It leaves the pressure squarely on David Moyes.

After a defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in the league and Swansea City in the FA Cup, both at Old Trafford, United succumbed at the Stadium of Light, to a side who are bottom of the table. While the second leg, which takes place on January 22, offers United an opportunity for redemption, their lack of confidence is palpable.

Seventh in the league and beset by injuries to key players such as Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, they trail Arsenal, the leaders, by 11 points.

Ferguson, Moyes's predecessor, had not been expected to attend the match, but a late request for a ticket, received by Sunderland on Monday, resulted in the Scot taking his place in the directors' box, where he witnessed another desperately disjointed performance.

Sunderland, who are four points adrift of safety in the league, were twice permitted to take the lead, first through an own goal from Ryan Giggs then with Fabio Borini's penalty, awarded for Tom Cleverley's nudge on Adam Johnson.

Between the two goals, Nemanja Vidic salvaged an equaliser, heading in from Cleverley's corner, but United's confidence again proved brittle and, having worked their way back to a position of parity, they conceded again.

While Moyes's name was chanted by United's raucous travelling supporters - there was anger from Sunderland fans housed in the North Stand after a flare was thrown among them - it represents a bleak spell for Ferguson's replacement, particularly with Vidic's future again uncertain.

The centre half's agent claimed yesterday that the defender does not intend to sign a new contract, with his existing deal expiring at the end of June and with a number of clubs, including Fiorentina, monitoring the player's situation.

It is unclear whether the reigning league champions have opened talks with Vidic over a new contract, but the Serbia defender's representative has suggested that his client is considering a move.

Speaking to Radio CRC in Naples, Silvano Martina said: "Vidic, given his contract situation, has several teams looking at him. Vidic is a very good player and will have no trouble finding a new club."

The news will come as another blow to Moyes. Although there are concerns about the impact two knee operations have had on Vidic's fitness, the United manager wants to keep the defender, especially as Rio Ferdinand will not be offered a new contract when his present deal runs out at the end of the season.

Ferdinand has been ruled out for up to two weeks with a knee injury suffered during United's 2-1 FA Cup defeat at home to Swansea on Sunday.

There were fears that Ferdinand had suffered ligament damage, but a scan yesterday (Tuesday) revealed only bad bruising. Nonetheless, the injury could rule Ferdinand out of the league game away to Chelsea a week on Sunday.

The Times