Manchester United v Sunderland: Capital One Cup match preview

A look ahead to tonight’s League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford

Football obsessive David Moyes in a black dog mood, showing what has been called his 'Reverend Ian Paisley mentality' (Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images)

David Moyes will be looking to recover from a string of defeats when his team take on Sunderland tonight in the second leg of the Capital One Cup Semi Final. Currently one goal behind after the first leg, Manchester United will need a good performance if they are to progress through to the final.

After suffering a devastating 3-1 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday, Moyes is running out of games to catch up with Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are now 14 points ahead in the table. United’s form has been uncharacteristically poor in recent weeks, having suffered four defeats in their last five games, two of which were at Old Trafford.

Sunderland currently sit second to bottom of the Premier League and remain in a fight for their survival. Their chances of progressing through to the Capital One Cup Final remain strong after they beat United 2-1 in the first leg of the semi-final. Gus Poyet’s men have also won three of their last four games, so will be confident going into tonight’s match.

The winner will take on Manchester City, who beat West Ham 9-0 on aggregate in the other semi-final.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Sunderland 2 (Giggs (og), Borini) Man Utd 1 (Vidic), Capital One Cup, January 2014

Sunderland 1 (Gardner) Man Utd 2 (Januzaj (2)), Premier League, October 2013

Sunderland 0 Man Utd 1 (Bramble), Premier League, March 2013

STATS:

Sunderland have only won two of their last 25 meetings with Manchester United in all competitions (L18 D5), though both of these victories have come in the League Cup.

Javier Hernandez has scored three goals in just 199 minutes of League Cup action this campaign.

Only Manchester City (75) and Leicester (57) have fired in more shots in this season's League Cup than Sunderland (54).

Manchester United have scored in all but one of their last 18 League Cup games, netting 40 goals in total in this run.

ODDS:

Man Utd to win: 1.33

Sunderland to win: 9.0

Draw: 4.5

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 7.45pm, highlights on BBC 1 at 11.15pm