Sam Allardyce has claimed that Sunderland could benefit from being fresher when they visit Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The Toffees came through a 1-1 draw with Norwich City in 120 minutes on Tuesday before clinching a spot in the League Cup quarter-finals with victory in a penalty shootout.
Allardyce bounced back from defeat in his first game in charge by guiding the Black Cats to a 3-0 win over Newcastle United last weekend, and he believes that the match against Everton could be won or lost in the closing stages.
"We're playing against a team on their own ground who are very, very strong," he told reporters. "So we have to be better.
"We've got advantages - Everton have got a few injury problems and they played in midweek in the Capital One Cup.
"We could take advantage of that if we're in the game late on, their fatigue will come in the last 15 or 20 minutes."
Sunderland have won on their last two trips to Everton.
