David Moyes tore into his Manchester United players in a furious dressing- room tirade after the FA Cup third-round defeat at home to Swansea City on Sunday.

The United manager was incensed by the poverty of the performance, despite largely defending his players in public, and warned that futures were at stake unless they arrest the slump that has added to a growing sense of gloom at Old Trafford.

Swansea’s 2-1 victory was United’s fourth defeat in their past six home matches and heightened the pressure on Moyes before the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final away to Sunderland this evening, a competition that may represent his only realistic chance of silverware this season.

Having admitted that he needs to sign players “urgently”,