Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has revealed that he is bemused that his side can't take their impressive form in the cup competitions into the Premier League.
The Black Cats advanced to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup by beating Southampton 1-0 at the Stadium of Light, but Poyet's men still languish in the Premier League relegation zone.
He told reporters: "It's incredible in the cup, I can't explain it. It's scary why we win every cup game and then in the league we don't. Is it because there's no pressure? That's an option.
"I think there are lessons. Sometimes there is a mentality where we are still thinking that there's time in the league, but there isn't.
"In the cup, you play a game and although you can have a replay, you play as if it's going to finish today. That craziness of, 'Today, it can finish' – maybe we have to play the next home game in the league like that."
The Black Cats are also in the Capital One Cup final where they will face Manchester City on March 2.
