Leicester 2 - 0 SunderlandLeicester’s Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy deepen Sunderland gloom
Home team scorersIslam Slimani 69
Jamie Vardy 78
Tuesday 4 April 2017 22.03 BST Last modified on Tuesday 4 April 2017 22.12 BST
David Moyes presided over another Sunderland defeat as a regretful and chastened manager but not one at risk of being fired for suggesting he might slap a female reporter. Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy scored to extend Leicester’s winning run to six matches under Craig Shakespeare but, before that, Moyes enjoyed the backing of his employers.
Amid stinging criticism for comments made to the BBC’s Vicki Sparks, Sunderland declared that Moyes’s remarks had been “wholly unacceptable” but that no further action needed to be taken against the Scot, who has apologised both privately and publicly.
“The exchange between the manager and a BBC reporter was wholly unacceptable and such actions are not condoned or excused in any way,” read a statement by Sunderland, who noted that Moyes had “proactively” informed the club about his comments and said sorry to the reporter. “The swift and decisive action taken by the club and the manager at the time ensured that it was resolved to the satisfaction of the reporter and the BBC, which was the priority,” added the statement.
The Football Association, which has requested Moyes’s “observations”about the exchange, may decide that stiffer punishment is in order but Sunderland concluded that “the club continues to fully support David in his role as manager”.
That was no doubt intended to enable the club and manager to move along from a damaging controversy by quelling unease about what has been interpreted variously as an unpleasant quip or a sinister threat. Putting all that to bed might allow the Premier League’s bottom club to concentrate on their performances on the pitch, most of which have brought derision of another kind this season.
As Moyes’s players trudged into the King Power stadium they might have been struck by the contrast in moods around their club and Leicester. Nearly six weeks on from the firing of Claudio Ranieri, the home of the champions is at peace, albeit a delightfully noisy and giddy peace. Free beer and cakes were distributed to fans before kick-off to celebrate the birthday of Leicester’s chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, while Shakespeare has progressed from feeling like a “pantomime villain” in his first press conference after Ranieri’s dismissal to a manager who can say or do no wrong.
Shakespeare was able to deploy the same lineup that had swatted aside Stoke City on Saturday. Moyes, meanwhile, could again call on Lee Cattermole. Injury had kept Sunderland’s captain out of the team since September but here he was cast straight back into the side on a mission to inspire renewed fight and belief from a team who have recently seemed resigned to relegation.
Leicester were determined not to let Sunderland ease their way into the contest, attacking the visitors with gusto. It took them only three minutes to threaten, a close-range shot by Shinji Okazaki grazing the side-netting.
But Sunderland were no mere bystanders. After withstanding Leicester’s early bluster the visitors hinted at menace from several corners and a couple of long shots. But Leicester came closest to scoring in a brisk, untidy first half.
Sunderland’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, had to backpedal quickly to tip a header by Robert Huth over the bar from a free-kick by Riyad Mahrez. And just before half-time Pickford flung himself across goal to turn away a curling 20-yard shot by Demarai Gray, who posed a regular threat to Sunderland. It was no surprise when Cattermole earned a yellow card for trying to sabotage a Leicester break by ttripping the young winger.
Given their meagre points tally going into the game Sunderland needed a win to swell belief in a relegation escape but Moyes saw no need to change their approach at half-time, seemingly hopeful his team could eke out a goal playing as they were even if their top scorer, Jermain Defoe, had barely been involved.
Five minutes into the second period Sunderland created a small opening for Defoe’s striker-partner, Fabio Borini, but the Italian’s scruffy first touch allowed two defenders to blocks his shot.
Vardy was also struggling to make an impact for Leicester, deprived of accurate service and well tracked by Jason Denayer and Lamine Koné.
Sunderland fans sensed an opportunity when Sebastian Larsson lined up a free-kick on the edge of the Leicester box in the 54th minute but he nearly hit the supporters with his shot. Three minutes later another free-kick by Larsson led to Defoe’s first shot of the night. He struck it crisply but straight at Kasper Schmeichel.
Shakespeare was concerned. Just after the hour he introduced Slimani and Marc Albrighton. Moments later Huth went close with another header from a free-kick but Pickford saved again and in the 69th minute their new arrivals combined to open the scoring. Albrighton crossed from the left and Slimani outmanoeuvred Koné before heading home from seven yards. Shakespeare’s changes had paid off.
Moyes hoped to have a similar impact when he, too, made a double substitution in the 72nd minute, throwing on Wahbi Khazri and Victor Anichebe. The latter almost granted his wish but his shot from 15 yards was deflected on to a post. Then Moyes’ misery was deepened by Vardy.
After more excellent work by Albrighton and more sloppy defending by Sunderland, Vardy fired home from 16 yards.
Guardian