Vardy gives Leicester vital win at Sunderland

2 years ago 42

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Jamie Vardy's first-half header gave Championship leaders Leicester City a crucial win against Sunderland to keep their title bid on track.

The Foxes went into the game on a run of three straight league defeats, which had seen their lead at the top of the table cut from 12 to just three points.

But Vardy's 10th goal of the season, a headed finish after a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall free kick from the left, saw them home in an uninspiring encounter at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats lost their fifth game in a row, falling from the play-off spots to 10th place in that time, 10 points outside the top six.

They have also lost every game since Mike Dodds took interim charge of the team following the sacking of Michael Beale just 12 games into his head coach tenure.

Leicester were far from inspiring in a game with few clear chances for either side, but this was a huge test for Enzo Maresca's team after a downturn in form that threatened to derail what had appeared to be a procession to the Championship title.

Having leaked late goals and wasted key chances in their previous three games, City were resolute in defence - with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen making crucial saves from Luke O'Nien and Troy Hume either side of the break.

In Vardy, they had the potent finisher they have needed, with the Foxes' record goalscorer nodding home after Wout Faes's header was well saved by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson from Dewsbury-Hall's cross.

There was late drama as referee Sunny Sukhvir Gill rejected fierce Sunderland appeals for a penalty when Callum Styles went over under pressure from Leicester defender Hamza Choudhury.

However, the visitors' held on to give them three points to keep them clear of Leeds and Ipswich at the top in the race for automatic promotion.

Line-ups

Sunderland

Formation 5-4-1

1Patterson
32Hume
23Seelt
5Ballard
13O'NienBooked at 55mins
33Hjelde
31RiggSubstituted forStylesat 82'minutes
39EkwahSubstituted forAouchicheat 60'minutes
24Neil
7BellinghamSubstituted forRusynat 82'minutes
9Silva SemedoSubstituted forMundleat 59'minutes

Substitutes

6Pembélé
11Burstow
14Mundle
15Rusyn
17Ba
22Aouchiche
28Styles
30Bishop
48Kelly

Leicester

Formation 4-2-3-1

30HermansenBooked at 68mins
17Choudhury
3Faes
4Coady
5Doyle
8Winks
22Dewsbury-HallBooked at 81mins
18FatawuSubstituted forJustinat 86'minutes
29AkgünSubstituted forNdidiat 72'minutesBooked at 90mins
10Mavididi
9VardySubstituted forIheanachoat 78'minutes

Substitutes

2Justin
11Albrighton
14Iheanacho
15Souttar
20Daka
25Ndidi
40Marçal-Madivadua
41Stolarczyk
45Nelson

Referee:Sunny Sukhvir Gill

Attendance:40,293

Live Text

Match ends, Sunderland 0, Leicester City 1.
Second Half ends, Sunderland 0, Leicester City 1.
Offside, Sunderland. Dan Ballard is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leo Hjelde with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Dan Neil (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Mads Hermansen.
Attempt saved. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City).
Leo Hjelde (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Wout Faes.
Attempt blocked. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.
Stephy Mavididi (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Callum Styles (Sunderland).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Leicester City).
Attempt blocked. Dan Neil (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Leicester City. James Justin replaces Abdul Fatawu.
Foul by Hamza Choudhury (Leicester City).