Match Report: Sunderland AFC 0-1 Leicester City
An inspired second-half performance wasn’t enough for Sunderland, as their losing run extended to five matches with a 1-0 defeat to Leicester City on Tuesday night.
Enzo Maresca’s Foxes never really got out of first gear, but Jamie Vardy’s 13th-minute header was enough to seal all three points for the league leaders.
However, in a second half where the home side limited Maresca’s side to an expected goals of 0.01, they failed to score for a second successive match despite their second-half dominance.
Mike Dodds made two changes from the side that lost at Carrow Road on Saturday, with teenager Chris Rigg making his first league start, whilst Dan Ballard returned from his two-game suspension in a change to a back-five.
However, the more defensive setup struggled to limit the Foxes’ attacking threat though, as Leicester looked dangerous from the off.
A great double save from Anthony Patterson denied both Jamie Vardy and Yunus Akgun from close range after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cut-back, but after only 13 minutes, Enzo Maresca’s side were in front.
Wout Faes’s bullet header from Dewsbury-Hall’s free-kick was originally blocked by Patterson, but Vardy’s rebound looped into the corner.
The Black Cats’ only shot on target during the first half came when Jobe Bellingham’s header from the centre of the 18-yard box was telegraphed into the gloves of a diving Mads Hermansen.
Dodds’ side stepped up the tempo and looked more threatening from the start of the second 45, even if they continued to struggle without a focal presence at the top end of the pitch.
Trai Hume came the closest, as his long-range effort from just over 25 yards slammed against the crossbar with Hermansen seemingly beaten.
The introduction of Adil Aouchiche seemed to add an extra energy to the home side’s performance, as he began to orchestrate their attacks.
The Frenchman’s free-kick was curled around the right post, before his right-footed drive was well held by the Leicester ‘keeper.
A late penalty shout for Dodds’ side proved to be their last hope of snatching something from the contest, but Hamza Choudhury’s challenge on Ballard went unpunished by referee, Sunny Singh Gill.
Boos directed at the officials greeted the final whistle, as the Black Cats’ run without a win extended to five, with the Foxes returning to winning ways after their run of three defeated.
