Sunderland 0 City 1
Post Match Analysis by Coiln Hall
A first-half goal from Jamie Vardy proved enough to earn Leicester City a victory at Sunderland and keep the Foxes clear at the top of the Championship.
However, while the result provided welcome relief for the Blue Army after a run of three successive league defeats, the manner in which it was achieved was some distance short of convincing.
Indeed, during the closing stages of another disjointed display, the Foxes threatened to add to their tally of points squandered from winning positions – a factor which could still derail Enzo Maresca’s challenge for automatic promotion.
Many home fans – and some City supporters too – felt Hamza Choudhury had given away a penalty in the dying moments with a reckless challenge on home defender Ballard.
But as the entire visiting contingent held its breath, referee Gill – soon to be elevated to elite level, despite a somewhat eccentric performance here – waved away the vociferous claims.
With numerous TV replays from various angles proving inconclusive, it is likely that a VAR review would have upheld the referee’s call.
In addition, given the number of decisions that have gone against City in recent weeks, especially in key clashes with nearest challengers, Maresca may feel justified in contending that his team deserved the rub of the green on this occasion.
Yet the first 20 minutes of this clash gave no indication of the tense and contentious climax that was to follow.
City took the game immediately to their depleted, managerless hosts, with wingers Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi – both under the spotlight after recent indifferent performances during the run – particularly prominent.
The visitors had already created – and wasted – a string of opportunities before Vardy made the breakthrough, heading home a rebound after Black Cats keeper Patterson had blocked an effort from Wout Faes.
At this stage, it appeared merely a question of how many further goals City would add. But as the second goal – which would have settled so many nerves on and off the field – failed to arrive, Sunderland began to gain a toehold on the game.
The hosts’ only serious effort of the first half came when a Bellingham header produced a diving stop from Mads Hermansen. While the City defence, boosted by the return of Conor Coady and Callum Doyle, remained generally steadfast, fears persisted that one lapse might prove enough to undo their good work.
After the break, as Sunderland became more ambitious and pushed players forward, City’s rhythm started to desert them, with passes regularly going astray and Vardy frequently unable to hold the ball up. As too often in recent times, Maresca appeared reluctant to make use of options available on his bench, although his introduction of Wilfred Ndidi for a modest 20-minute cameo proved a much-needed boost for team-mates and fans alike.
The crowd – officially the biggest for a Championship game involving City for nearly 15 years – started to exert an influence, especially on the referee, who seemed particularly indulgent of a number of heavy challenges on Mavididi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Fortunately for the visitors, though, Hermansen remained relatively untroubled until the dramatics at the death, though he needed assistance from the crossbar to deny a long-range strike from Hume.
Although the keeper was successful here in preserving a clean sheet, serious questions remain about this side’s ability to see out games. It was particularly disturbing to note the fear factor which was absent during many of City’s previous wins on the road in this campaign has now resurfaced with a vengeance.
The forthcoming clash with Hull will be of crucial significance, as anything other than victory will allow City’s pursuers the opportunity to overtake them.
With the mindset of Maresca’s group of players appearing a little fragile right now, it is far from guaranteed that if the top spot is lost during the weeks ahead, they would be capable of regaining it.
Sunderland (5-4-1): Patterson; Hume, Seelt, Ballard, O’Nien (c), Hjelde; Rigg (Styles 82), Ekwah (Aouchiche 60), Neil, Bellingham (Rusyn 82); Semedo (Mundle 59). Subs not used: Bishop, Pembele, Kelly Ba, Burstow.
Booked: O’Nien.
Leicester (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Choudhury, Faes, Coady, Doyle; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu (Justin 86), Akgun (Ndidi 71); Mavididi; Vardy (Iheanacho 78). Subs not used: Stolarczyk, Nelson, Souttar, Albrighton, Marcal, Daka.
Goal: Vardy (13)
Booked: Hermansen, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi.
Referee: Sunny Singh Gill. Attendance: 40 293
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.