David Moyes is hoping an extended EFL Cup run can revive Sunderland's Premier League fortunes, just as it did three seasons ago.
Then head coach Gus Poyet guided the Black Cats to the League Cup final in March 2014 and although they lost 3-1 to Manchester City at Wembley, they finished the campaign with a momentum which brought them four league wins in the last five games and saw them finish in 14th place, five points clear of the drop zone.
Current boss Moyes takes his beleaguered side to Southampton on Wednesday evening having collected just two of the first 27 points on offer and sitting at the foot of the table.