Man Utd: 5 Things We've Learned From Their New Year Slump

4. Where's Your Discipline?

Given how many defenders are injured, Manchester United can hardly afford to have their fit ones picking up suspensions. It seems nobody told this self-evident point to the club's Brazilian fullback twins Fabio and Rafael. Fabio lasted just four minutes on the pitch against Swansea when he replaced Ferdinand. A wild, scything lunge on Jose Canas saw him sent straight off. Brother Rafael then did his level best in customary impetuous fashion to join him as banned, but just about got away with it at Sunderland. Referee Andre Marriner showed remarkable clemency to Rafael €“ already booked for dissent €“ when he caught Fabio Borini late moments after the Black Cats loanee had restored their lead. Another official may have taken a dimmer view. Sunderland hold a slender advantage over United in their two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final tie because of a penalty. Much-maligned midfielder Tom Cleverley was the guilty party here, stepping across the path of sub Adam Johnson, but was it in the box? Januzaj has picked up one or two bookings for diving recently too. These all amount of lapses in discipline. Moyes needs to get a grip on the younger players in the Red Devils squad and make it plain that they need to cut out these bad habits that are developing.