Jamie Vardy’s header in the first half secured a vital victory for Championship leaders Leicester City against Sunderland, maintaining their pursuit of the title.
The Foxes entered the match after suffering three consecutive league defeats, diminishing their lead at the top of the table from 12 points to a mere three. However, Jamie Vardy’s 10th goal of the season, a header following a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall free kick from the left, secured victory for them in a lackluster encounter at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland, meanwhile, endured their fifth consecutive loss, plummeting from the play-off positions to 10th place, trailing the top six by 10 points. Their losing streak coincided with Mike Dodds taking interim charge of the team after the dismissal of Michael Beale just 12 games into his tenure as head coach.
Despite Leicester’s uninspiring performance in a match with limited clear-cut opportunities for either side, this victory was a significant test for Enzo Maresca’s team following a slump in form that threatened their seemingly assured march to the Championship title.
Having conceded late goals and squandered key chances in their previous three matches, Leicester displayed defensive resolve, with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen making crucial saves from Luke O’Nien and Troy Hume on either side of halftime.
In Vardy, they possessed the clinical finisher they required, as the Foxes’ all-time leading scorer nodded home after Wout Faes’ header was parried by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson from Dewsbury-Hall’s delivery.
Late drama ensued as referee Sunny Sukhvir Gill dismissed vehement Sunderland appeals for a penalty when Callum Styles went down under pressure from Leicester defender Hamza Choudhury. Nonetheless, the Foxes held firm to secure a victory, maintaining their three-point lead over second-placed Ipswich and a five-point advantage over third-placed Leeds in the race for automatic promotion.
Sunderland interim boss Mike Dodds told BBC Radio Newcastle:
“That’s five on the bounce now, and we have to buck that trend. I think we gave a snapshot of how I, and the team want to play, in the second half.
“I thought in the first half Leicester moved the ball so quickly, and scored in that spell, but I felt we got a level of control towards the end of the half.
“In the second half we were sensational. We gave them no attacking opportunities whatsoever.
“I feel that one win will lead to two, three, and four wins. But at the moment it’s just not falling for us, and I am very conscious of the fact there’s three ‘L’s’ in my three games in charge.”
Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca told BBC Radio Leicester:
“It was a very important victory, especially after the three defeats. We won the game in an ugly way, but winning in that way helps us to improve as a team.
“In the last three games we played better, we created more chances, but lost. Tonight, we only created chances in the first half but won the game.
“In the second half we were a little bit tired. I am more in love with the team every day, because they put in an unbelievable effort towards the end of the season.
“Now it’s important we recover in energy, and go again on Saturday [against Hull City].”