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Winger Adam Johnson believes Sunderland will have to beat the best team in the Barclays Premier League to seal Capital One Cup glory.
The Black Cats face Johnson's former employers Manchester City in the final of the competition at Wembley on Sunday with Manuel Pellegrini's men currently sitting in third place in the league table, three points adrift of leaders Chelsea but with a game in hand.
He has no doubts about the quality of the opposition he and his team-mates will face this weekend, but having played in City sides which have at times struggled to beat Sunderland, does not fear the challenge.
Johnson said: "For me, they have the best squad in the league by far and it's going to be difficult, we all know that.
Sunderland: The latest match picturesShow all 73 1 /73Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Swansea 3 Wilfried Bony celebrates scoring the away side's third
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Swansea 3 Fabio Borini gets a goal back for the Blackcats
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Swansea 3 Wilfried Bony and Marvin Emnes celebrate after the Swans' second goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Swansea 3 Nathan Dyer and his teammates celebrate after going in front
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Swansea 3 Nathan Dyer scores Swansea's opening goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Manager Gus Poyet celebrates with his players after their win secures Premier League safety
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Fabio Borini celebrates after scoring the Blackcats' second goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Fabio Borini curls in the home side's second
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Stephane Sessegnon holds off Lee Cattermole
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 John O'Shea congratulates Jack Colback after his opening goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Jack Colback finds the back of the net to open the scoring
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Chris Brunt has a shot at goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester United 0 Sunderland 1 Robin van Persie jumps for the ball Vito Mannone
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester United 0 Sunderland 1 Nani keeps the ball under pressure from Sunderland players
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester United 0 Sunderland 1 Manchester United players react to going a goal down
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester United 0 Sunderland 1 Sebastian Larsson is congratulated by John O'Shea after scoring
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester United 0 Sunderland 1 Connor Wickham celebrates after setting up Sebastian Larsson for the Blackcats' opener
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Connor Wickham celebrates after scoring his second and Sunderland's fourth goal of the afternoon
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Emanuele Giaccherini celebrates his goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Emanuele Giaccherini scores the home side's third of the day
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Fabio Borini scores from the penalty spot to put Sunderland two ahead
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Juan Cala walks off the pitch head in hands after being sent off
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Juan Cala tugs back Connor Wickham's arm and gives away a penalty
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Connor Wickham celebrates after scoring the Black Cats opening goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 Sunderland striker Fabio Borini, on loan from Liverpool, scores the winning goal from the penalty spot to hand Jose Mourinho his first Premier League defeat at home
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 Adam Johnson has a shot at goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 Connor Wickham wheels away after scoring the equaliser
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 Connor Wickham taps in from close range to level for the Black Cats after Mark Schwarzer spills a shot
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 Samuel Eto'o celebrate his goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 Samuel Eto'o fires past Vito Mannone to give Chelsea the lead
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 Ramires and Jack Colback battle for the ball
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 2 Sunderland 2 Samir Nasri clutches his shirt and looks to the heavens after missing the chance to rescue a victory for Manchester City
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 2 Sunderland 2 Connor Wickham celebrates scoring for the second time
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 2 Sunderland 2 Connor Wickham pulls Sunderland back into the tie
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 2 Sunderland 2 Vito Mannone fails to keep out Samir Nasri's late strike
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 2 Sunderland 2 Fernandinho gives Manchester City the lead with a second-minute striker past Vito Mannone
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 0 Everton 1 Seamus Coleman, Gerard Deulofeu and Steven Naismith of Everton celebrate after Wes Brown of Sunderland scores an own goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Tottenham 5 Sunderland 1 Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his second goal against Sunderland by saluting manager Tim Sherwood
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Tottenham 5 Sunderland 1 Fabio Borini of Sunderland shoots as he is challenged by Aaron Lennon of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Tottenham 5 Sunderland 1 Tim Sherwood greets Sunderland manager Gus Poyet before Tottenham’s 5-1 win
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 West Ham 2 Andy Carroll celebrates after his header opened the scoring
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 West Ham 2 Sam Allardyce the West Ham manager and Gustavo Poyet the Sunderland manager react during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 West Ham 2 Marcos Alonso of Sunderland takes a shot on goal
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 West Ham 2 Adam Johnson of Sunderland is challenged by Kevin Nolan
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 West Ham 2 Goalkeeper Adrian of West Ham dives in vain as Adam Johnson of Sunderland scores his team's goal
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Steven Gerrard celebrates with Jordan Henderson after opening the scoring
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Luis Suarez goes to ground after a clash with Lee Cattermole
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Ki Sung-Yueng pulled a goal back late on
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Jordan Henderson celebrates with goalscorer Sturridge
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Daniel Sturridge doubled Liverpool's lead via a deflection off Wes Brown
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Vito Mannone gets a hand to Gerrard's strike but is unable to keep it out
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the lead with a free-kick
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Sunderland 0 Marcos Alonso receives a red card
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Sunderland 0 Alexander Tettey scores from all of 30 yards to put Norwich two up
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Sunderland 0 Robert Snodgrass celebrates after putting Norwich in front
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0 Julian Speroni makes a diving save to earn Palace a point
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0 Jozy Altidore fires a effort at goal
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0 Mile Jedinak is tackled unfairly by Liam Bridcutt
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0 Liam Bridcutt clears the ball
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0 Fabio Borini rues a missed chance
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 Fabio Borini scores the opener
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 Fabio Borinin celebrates his goal
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 Yaya Toure on the ball
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 Yaya Toure equalises for City
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 Samir Nasri gives Man City the lead
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 Jesus Navas seals the win for Man City
Sunderland: The latest match pictures Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1 Tomas Rosicky celebrates his goal as Arsenal win comfortably
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1 Olivier Giroud slots home his second past ex teammate Vito Mannone
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1 Olivier Giroud celebrates his second goal of the afternoon against Sunderland
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Southampton 0 Both teams partook in a minute's applause before kick-off in their FA Cup tie in memory of former England great Sir Tom Finney, who passed away
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Southampton 0 Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner unleashes a looping shot to give the Black Cats the lead
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Southampton 0 Sunderland manager Gus Poyet looks pleased enough with Gardener's opener
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Sunderland: The latest match pictures Sunderland 1 Southampton 0 But Poyet is soon back to his furious self as he reacts to the linesman from the touchline
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"But we have beaten them once already this season and we have had quite a good record in recent years against them.
"I remember being in the City side a few times coming here and struggling, so hopefully it will be like that again.
"We all know it's a massive, massive task for us, but it's a cup final and so many times over the years, it's not as simple as everyone expects it to go."
Sunderland have, in fact, beaten City on each of their last four league visitors to Wearside, and came within five minutes of a famous victory at the Etihad Stadium in March 2012 when goals from Mario Balotelli and Aleksandar Kolarov snatched a draw for the home side.
Johnson, who was introduced as a half-time substitute by then manager Roberto Mancini in that game, joined the Black Cats in a £10million switch around five months later as owner Ellis Short spent big in a bid to end the club's seemingly perennial fight for top-flight survival.
The England international showed only flashes of his undoubted talent during his first season back in the north-east, but has blossomed once again under new head coach Gus Poyet to the extent that he scored seven goals in as many games in January and February.
Johnson's improvement went hand-in-hand with Sunderland's climb from the foot of the table, but he insists there is no secret to the progress made both individually and collectively.
He said: "It's just been down to hard work for both. It hasn't been one thing with me personally.
"With the team, we have been working on all sorts of different things really - our shape, our attacking, defending off the ball.
"We have just been slowly putting it together piece by piece and it has started to show in our performances.
"It's just been down to working hard on the training ground, really, because we have the players. It was just getting that out of them."
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