Gus Poyet has urged his
Sunderland players to put a
"nightmare" season to one
side and relish the chance to
reach the Capital One Cup
final.
The Barclays Premier League's
bottom club host faltering
Manchester United at the
Stadium of Light on Tuesday
evening in the first leg of their
semi-final showdown.
United's visit to Wearside
comes against the backdrop of
an intensely difficult few
months for the Uruguayan and
his players, who have won
only three league games all
season, two fewer than they
have managed in the
domestic cup competitions.
However, while top-flight
survival remains the
overwhelming priority, Poyet
insists the chance to claim a
famous scalp and book a trip
to Wembley is one which
should excite his beleaguered
troops.
The 46-year-old said: "It's the
nice part, the nicest. It's nice
to come here and talk about a
semi-final and not talk about
points and relegation.
"I would like to say it's the
nicest part of the season
because the rest has been a
nightmare with the position in
the table, so let's try to enjoy
this one and go on and do
something important for the
club."
If Sunderland head into the
game with major challenges
ahead of them, their
opponents are entrenched in
the sort of crisis which has not
visited Old Trafford for more
than two decades.
Manager David Moyes finds
himself in the firing line with
his side currently trailing
Premier League leaders
Arsenal by 11 points and
having been dumped out of
the FA Cup in the third round
by Swansea at the weekend.
The Swans became the fifth
visiting side to win at Old
Trafford to date this season
with West Brom, Everton,
Newcastle and Tottenham
having previously done so.
However, Poyet insists the
fear factor has not diminished.
He said: "No, I don't think so,
no. Seriously, no, because it's
not about being scared or not.
"I have got different
experiences against
Manchester United - with
Chelsea, we were pretty good
against them, and with
Tottenham, we were not good
enough, and I don't think we
were more or less scared.
"I went on the pitch with the
same attitude, just to do my
job and help my team.
"But overall, they are normally
better than you, so you need
to make sure you are spot-
on."
Manchester United manager
Moyes is expected to recall a
number of big names.
Wayne Rooney, Michael
Carrick, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice
Evra and David de Gea are all
set to return after sitting out
Sunday's shock FA Cup home
defeat by Swansea.
Robin van Persie (thigh) and
Phil Jones (knee) are unlikely
to be involved. Marouane
Fellaini (wrist), Ashley Young
(shoulder) and Nani
(hamstring) are definitely out,
Fabio starts a three-match
ban and Rio Ferdinand faces a
spell on the sidelines after
injuring his knee at the
weekend.
And though United were
without seven senior players
and had substitute Fabio sent
off just four minutes after his
introduction in the second-half
following an injury to Rio
Ferdinand, Moyes did not try
to defend the situation.
"No (not an excuse to have
seven players out)," said
Moyes.
"We have another big game in
48 hours time so we had to
keep that in mind but there
are no excuses.
"We had a very strong team
out. Just about every player
on the pitch was an
international."
Ferdinand looks set for a spell
on the sidelines after limping
off with a knee problem,
although Michael Carrick and,
possibly, Rooney, will be fit for
the Capital One Cup semi-final
first-leg at Sunderland on
Tuesday.
"You can definitely see we are
lacking that little bit of
confidence when we get into
the final third at times," he
said.
"We need to get back to
winning ways and be hard to
play against. Most
importantly, we need to take
something out of the good
play we have had in games.
"It has been a tough start. I
am disappointed we have not
won more games but it will
change I have no doubt about
that.
"It shouldn't be that (United
are reliant on likes of Rooney
and Van Persie).
"My job is to find a way of
winning. It doesn't matter
what style you have to find a
way of winning."

New Year Promo still on...

Man U vs Tottenham

Moyes : You want Three Points?
Sheerwood: Sure, I do
Moyes : You got it!


Man U vs Swansea

Moyes : You want a win?
Laudrup: Of course, I want it.
Moyes: You got it


Sunderland vs Man U

Moyes: You want a win....

Stadium of light had been a difficult place to go . sunderland had improved recently therefore manchester united should be wary of them..

Man utd will win, Hit LIKE.

This might be our only hope of silverware #GGMU so I expect moyes to come out with tha full team and take this seriously!! #WIN #WIN

Just hope united wouldn't lose today because so many Djs will be available today ..... just to remind u guys

nickz: This might be our only hope of silverware #GGMU so I expect moyes to come out with tha full team and take this seriously!! #WIN #WIN

yup homie,just keep on hoping for the best
TeamUnited

scores?

timbros: scores?

SUN 1-0 MUN

Giggs own goal

aieromon:

SUN 1-0 MUN

Giggs own goal

1-1 Vidic

SUN 2-1 MUN

Full time

SUN 2-1 MUN

na so man u fans desert the thread so tey na highlight-update dem dey drop.


this one is strong

Man u lose again, 3 in a row.hahahahahahha
Expect More of these in the coming days

Hmmm maay it continue like this till Stamford Bridge o.....No sack Moyes yet biko!

hahahahahahahahaha!

See as Manure thread be like ghost town. . eerie silence

loooooooolz...... Hehehehehe. ....oo oooooo, moyes out... * farts on op face* works out gently b4 dm bad bois slap me*

How are the mighty fallen?