[madsteve]

There are different types of tiredness. There is the tiredness of lung power that happens during a game. what we are suffering from are:

1) the tiredness from playing matches twice per week, for several weeks

2) the mental tiredness from the build up through to the euphoria of a big cup tie

The combination has hit our players, most particularly our midfield engine room where they play a high intensity game. Boro have shown similar problems after their win at Man Utd while Hull haven't had so many problems as they have rotated more plus they didn't have a high profile cup tie. Hull made nine changes for the Leicester cup tie and another nine changes for their league match at MK. We made just two changes for the Arsenal match, both enforced.