I was with a Red Dipper earlier and was saying that as soon as I saw the line up in Saturday, I knew we'd beat Villa well but I predicted that Manuel would revert to type tonight and we'd struggle.
I even bet him a quid I could predict the line up, but I lost as I didn't see Nacho for Sterling coming but I got everything else correct even down to Yaya again in a midfield two against a fired up Sunderland away. If I can guess this, so will professional managers with all the technological assistance they have to aid them.
After he confirmed the line up and formation, I went on to say to the Dipper that Fat Sam would swamp the midfield and target Yaya and also hit Clichy as he would get no protection from Silva. Individual brilliance from Hart and Aguero saved us again, but I suppose the fact we've gone to the SOL previously, battered them and come away with a defeat goes some way to making up for the turgid display we put on tonight.
If ever there was a match that we needed the same starting line up as Saturday away to Villa (barring Aguero and Hart) it was this one. I suppose Manuel just didn't have it in him to drop one of Silva or Yaya for two matches on the trot.