Not sure what your definition of 'teams sit back' is but let's say every team that is not Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, is that fair? (I'm not counting Everton, Leicester or Wolves as 'big' teams) If so, since the Burnley debacle on the 22nd of January (we lost 0:2 at home), this is our record:
- Watford at home, 3:0 win
- Everton away, 1:1 draw
- Derby County away for the FA Cup, 3:0 win
- Sheffield United at home, 3:0 win
- Norwich, neutral for the FA Cup, 1:2 win after extra time
- Brighton away, 3:0 win
- Bournemouth at home, 5:2 win
- Aston Villa away, 3:0 win
- Southampton at home, 2:2 draw (the game we lost Shaw to injury)
- Crystal Palace away, 2:0 win
- West Ham at home, 1:1 draw
- Leicester away, 2:0 win
- Crystal Palace at home, 1:3 loss (new season)
- Luton away for the Carabao, 3:0 win
- Brighton away, 3:2 win
- Brighton away for the Carabao, 3:0 win
- Newcastle away, 4:1 win
Well, not sure what do you see as inconsistency but to me a record of 13 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss is not one.