Sunderland 0 City 0
Report by Kate Thompson
For once, the result – and those elsewhere – was more important than the game. Compared with the highs of the last few weeks, it could be seen as a damp squib but a hard-earned point was enough to ensure a place in next season’s Premier League, something that seemed impossible less than two months ago.
It was a dour old game and City didn’t have a single shot on target but you could argue that it was one of their hardest matches of the season. Sunderland needed the points even more than we did and while a point was enough for Leicester, Sunderland still need at least one more from two tough away fixtures.
For once in the heady two-month miracle, City were second best but I can’t imagine a single Leicester fan (either the 3,000 in the ground or all those listening elsewhere) cared too much about that. We had done the seemingly impossible and beaten overwhelming odds, and nothing can detract from that.
The only change to the team against Southampton was the fit-again Andy King in for the unfortunate Matty James who had to have an operation on his damaged cruciate ligament; it was nice to see him join the players on the pitch – with crutches – at the end of yesterday’s game.
It was backs to the wall for much of the game and Schmeichel pulled off several world-class saves to deny Sunderland; they had several free kicks in dangerous positions but I was delighted to see how well the wall did its job and not a single strike got through to Schmeichel.
Although it would have been nice to see another win, that would have been very unfair on Sunderland, but it nearly happened at the death; Pantilimon, the Sunderland keeper, came rushing out and upended the ever-willing Vardy, leaving Kramaric (who had come on as sub for Ulloa in the 74th minute) with an open goal. But it was a difficult chance and he had little time to compose himself, and the ball went high and wide.
Most of the players acquitted themselves well and Robert Huth was yet again the stand-out defender – please sign him permanently as soon as possible! Mahrez, after his heroics last week, was poor and was replaced by Drinkwater in the 66th minute.
Two of our best players in the last few weeks, Vardy and Albrighton, were subdued – Sunderland had clearly done their homework and both were restricted to crumbs; Andy King was somewhat subdued, but as ever worked tirelessly. But none of this mattered.
We got the news about Hull losing at Spurs and Newcastle at QPR, and obviously the players knew too, as they celebrated at the end. A recent piece in a national newspaper suggested that all the players who had been involved this season, however little, would get the same bonus – a further indication, if one were needed, of Pearson’s astuteness.
His players, Schmeichel in particular, have been playing tribute to him and his man-management skills. I have always been a supporter of the manager and am delighted that he has got the reward for his efforts, along with the players; he may not be media-friendly but, frankly, who cares when he can galvanise the players so that they achieve one of the most difficult feats in sport.
Match details
Leicester: Schmeichel, Wasilewski, Huth, Morgan, Albrighton, King, Cambiasso, Schlupp, Mahrez (Drinkwater 67), Ulloa (Kramaric 75), Vardy. Subs not used: De Laet, Konchesky, Hammond, Schwarzer, Wood
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Jones (Reveillere 86), Coates, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Bridcutt (Johnson 60), Cattermole, Larsson, Defoe, Graham (Fletcher 80), Wickham. Subs not used: Giaccherini, Mannone, Vergini, Buckley
Attendance: 46,705 Referee: Martin Atkinson
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation
The Trust board would like to thank Kate who has provided over half of the away match reports this season, we hope other fans travelling to games next season will lighten Kate’s workload by joining the Trust match reporting team. If you like to join the team next season e-mail [email protected]