VARDY TURNS OFF THE LIGHT
Jamie’s 13th goal of the season ends Foxes promotion wobble
0 1 JAMIE VARDY got Leicester’s promotion bid back on track and condemned Sunderland to a fifth consecutive defeat.
City boss Enzo Maresca was desperate to stop their wobble after three league defeats in a row and Sunderland obediently rolled over during a tame first half at the Stadium of Light.
Vardy delivered his sixth goal in his last seven games to kill off Sunderland, who have suffered their worst run of defeats for eight years.
The 37-year old leapt highest to nod home after Kiernan Dewsbury-hall took a free-kick and found Wout Faes, who had his header palmed out. Former England star Vardy now has 13 for the season and is clearly still a major poacher, despite those advancing years.
Vardy’s goal in the 13th minute was no surprise given Leicester’s positive start.
But Maresca’s table-toppers failed to kill the game off and Sunderland could have snatched a leveller after the break had they been more purposeful. But that’s what happens when you’ve lost four on the bounce going into this fixture.
A stunning double save from Anthony Patterson kept Foxes out in the 10th minute when Dewsburyhall teed up Vardy, who had his shot saved before Yunus Akgun blasted at the keeper.
Sunderland’s season has been in freefall since sacking Tony Mowbray and the brief tenure of Michael Beale.
Interim coach Michael Dodds was attempting to stem a run of four defeats and the Black Cats did stay in the game, with Leicester surprisingly backing off after taking the lead.
Chris Rigg was given his first league start and looked lively after the break. But on a grim night for the home side, things got worse when Luke O’nien picked up his 10th booking of the season, meaning he is suspended for two games.
Trai Hume had two 30yard rockets tipped away by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, but the visitors were largely in control without risking too much going forward. They stay three points clear at the top. SUNDERLAND: Patterson 7; Seelt 6, Ballard 5, O’nien 6; Hume 6, Rigg 6 (Rusyn 82), Neil 5, Ekwah 5 (Aouchiche 59, 6), Hjelde 6; Jobe 5 (Styles 82), Hemir 4 (Mundle 59, 5) LEICESTER: Hermansen 7; Choudhury 7, Coady 7, Faes 7, Doyle 7; Winks 6, Dewsbury-hall 7; Mavididi 7, Akgun 6 (Ndidi 71), Fatawu 7 (Justin 86); Vardy 7 (Iheanacho 78)
REFEREE: Sunny Sungh Gill