An FA Cup 4th Round replay with Blackburn. I'm not sure if this is the best use of Sunderland resources at this point in the season, but that's sort of always the question with the FA and League Cups. Every side in the Premiership must do their own cost/benefit analysis on whether or not to risk injuries to even marginal players to play before crowds of often indifferent, bored punters (Cardiff Supporters aside). The calculus changes as you move lower and higher in the table. If you're fighting relegation, which I would make the argument Sunderland are, can you afford to take focus and energy away from preparing for the next league match, the next vital points? If you're battling for a place in Europe, as Aston Villa and Arsenal and the like are, can you afford the possibility of injury to even the remotest of reserves in the face of mounting first team absences? So the small clutch of solid mid table clubs are the only ones who don't have much to lose going full throttle in the FA Cup. Thus, I am predicting success for Gianfranco Zola's West Ham United. Current form and table position seem to back me on this prediction.
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