Moyes also revealed that he also ordered his players to train on Christmas Day before travelling to the north-east that night for the fixture.Working over the festive period is simply a part of a professional footballer's job.
Moyes:"We will work on Christmas Day like most teams.
"If you are a footballer you understand that this is a time that you work.
"That hasn't changed for as long as I've been involved, in fact it might have been a heavier schedule in the past.
"Everybody is entitled to enjoy Christmas time and so they should, it is an important time of the year. But in the same breath you still have to do your job and footballers work over Christmas.
"There are doctors, nurses and police who have to work at Christmas as well so we are no exception.
"I think if you are paid like the players are then you would be happy to work at Christmas as well."