LET’S be honest, conniving with Chelsea to ensure John Terry was afforded a mid-game guard of honour was not David Moyes’ biggest error of judgement this season. Threatening to slap a female reporter would probably top that list. Or maybe admitting Sunderland were as good as relegated in August.

Yet the sight of Sunderland’s players downing tools to facilitate one of the most self-indulgent acts in the history of the Premier League was still an unpalatable way to end a thoroughly miserable season. And the fact Moyes was wholly complicit in it merely provides further ammunition for the legion of fans who do not feel he is fit to remain in his post.

What on earth was the Sunderland boss thinking when he agreed to Chelsea’s frankly ludicrous request? Some have claimed Terry deserved such a send off as his lifelong association with the champions came to an end. Fine. But engineer an emotional farewell before kick-off or at the end of the game.

If you’re feeling really sentimental, bring Terry off the bench for the final couple of minutes to enable him to milk the applause on the touchline. At that point, Sunderland’s players could have clapped him onto the field.

But stopping what was supposed to be a competitive fixture to enable one of your opponents to saunter around in the spotlight? What does that say about Sunderland’s attitude as they tackled their final game of the season?

Never mind that the Black Cats were already relegated. That is irrelevant. They should have been playing for professional pride in front of a sold-out away end, packed with fans who travelled the length of the country to support a side that had led them down repeatedly in their previous 37 matches.

Clearly, those fans shouldn’t have wasted their time and money if Moyes’ view was that the game was little more than a glorified testimonial.

By agreeing to kick the ball out of play when Diego Costa tapped on his shoulder, Jordan Pickford made Sunderland look like small-time extras, happy to be sharing a stage with the big boys of Chelsea and their cast of global superstars.

‘Is it time now Mr Terry? Very good sir. You have a good day and let us know when you’re ready to start again’. It was pathetic, making Sunderland appear like subservient minnows rather than a club with a proud record of six First Division titles. The Bank of England club? They looked like penniless paupers in awe of Chelsea’s rouble-powered juggernaut.

Moyes’ willingness to go along with the stunt raises questions of potential irregularities relating to gambling and spot fixing. No one is suggesting the Sunderland boss attempted to make money from engineering a throw in at a specific point in the game, but there were betting markets that would have enabled him to do so and there are therefore ethical issues to address.

The Football Association are not understood to be investigating Sunday’s incident, but it is not too long ago that Sutton goalkeeper Wayne Shaw was dismissed for eating a pie in a gambling stunt. If the footballing world is to convince people it is clean, episodes such as last weekend’s have to be eradicated.

Ultimately, though, the overriding sentiment relating to Sunderland’s conduct on Sunday was one of embarrassment.

If Roy Keane had been managing the Black Cats, can you imagine how he would have responded to Chelsea’s request? Unlike Moyes, he would have told Terry where to stick the ball in the 26th minute. And it’s a safe bet it wouldn’t have been over the touchline.