You can win matches without playing your first XI, as we demonstrated in 2014, however you need to mix experience with youth. Our defence against Arsenal epitomised this perfectly, with Maguire and Tymon combined with Davies, Bruce and Taylor. Swap in Odubajo for Taylor and I'd go the same back 5 again.
It's further up the pitch we came unstuck though with Elmo as useless as tits on a bull.
Guys like Snodgrass who I dare say wouldn't mind an extra match after how long he's missed should be brought into the side to give us a real chance.