Adam Johnson has told his Sunderland teammates that they must capitalise on Manchester United's recent poor run of form when they clash in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
The Premier League champions have endured a below-par season so far under manager David Moyes and go into the meeting at the Stadium of Light on the back of being dumped out of the FA Cup by Swansea City at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"I think Manchester United are going through their most difficult spell in, what, 10 or 15 years?" Johnson told reporters. "So if there's ever a good time to play them, it's probably now.
"We have to build on our recent decent run, and make the most of home advantage, and having our fans behind us. We're coming into the game with a cup victory fresh in our minds, and although the Carlisle game is gone now – different opposition, different competition, different level – we can still take a bit of a boost from that.
"The mood in the camp is good – we've been in pretty good spirits anyway – even before the FA Cup win. But if it gives us that extra 1% on the night, then great."
The match kicks off at 7.45pm tonight.
Matt Cotton
