Cup run to give Sunderland boost needed to stay in Premier League

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet will hope that seeing his side dump Manchester United out of the Capital One Cup will provide the Black Cats with enough confidence to move up the Premier League table.

The Wearsiders currently sit inside the relegation zone, level on 18 points with fellow strugglers West Ham and Cardiff, but while league wins are still proving difficult to come by the Uruguayan has worked wonders to make his side difficult to beat.

Poyet arrived with the Stadium of Light outfit on just a single point after drawing one and losing six of their opening seven games of the campaign.

However, since his arrival the former Chelsea and Tottenham man has steered the Black Cats to four wins and five draws from his 15 league games at the helm.

While this may not seem the most impressive of records, Poyet’s men have now lost just once in seven Premier League outings and after booking a place at Wembley for the League Cup finale, Sunderland look poised to go on a survival run.

While a cup win still looks like a pipe dream for Poyet – with Sunderland priced at 9/1 to overcome Manchester City – a favourable run of home ties could see the Wearside outfit put some distance between themselves and their fellow survival bidders.

Stoke, Hull and West Brom are the next three clubs to make the journey to the Stadium of Light and after seeing off champions United over two legs Poyet will be confident of his side’s chances over the coming weeks.

It is no secret that the Black Cats lack firepower in attack – with just six goals from their four recognised strikers – but with Poyet set to dip into the market competition for places could have the desired effect.

Argentine Brighton forward Leonardo Ulloa has been mooted for a reunion with his old boss and if the forward can bring the form that saw him notch 15 goals in 31 appearances for the Seagulls last term, Sunderland’s 13/10 relegation odds could soon drift.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.