Internet Desk: Jamie Vardy’s clinical brace helped Leicester City move closer to the Premier league title. The England striker raced onto Danny Drinkwater’s long ball before finishing with aplomb midway through the second half of a scrappy affair at the Stadium of Light, which was high in tension but low in quality. Both sides had shouts for a penalty waved away in a first half during which chances were scarce, though Kasper Schmeichel saved well to deny Fabio Borini as Sunderland sought a win to give their survival hopes a major boost.
Wes Morgan, whose header secured three points against Southampton last week, spurned a great chance to put Leicester ahead when he nodded Riyad Mahrez’s corner wide from just six yards out.
Shinji Okazaki’s appeals for a penalty were dismissed after he was caught by DeAndre Yedlin following Marc Albrighton’s flighted ball over the top, but it was Sunderland who began to look the more likely as the half went on, Younes Kaboul coming closest with a looping header from just inside the box.
The home side had their own shouts for a penalty waved away by Anthony Taylor just before half-time as Patrick van Aanholt’s attempted cutback struck the trailing arm of Robert Huth, before Schmeichel reacted well with his legs to hook Fabio Borini’s deflected effort clear of the near post.
Drinkwater was denied by a smart smothering stop from Vito Mannone as he looked to race clear onto Vardy’s pass, but just as a breakthrough was beginning to look beyond a surprisingly sluggish Leicester, they seized the initiative.
Drinkwater fired a superb long pass from his own half into the path of Vardy, who raced into the penalty area before slotting low past a hesitant Mannone into the bottom corner.
Sunderland pushed for a late equaliser, but Jack Rodwell blazed over the crossbar when completely unmarked just six yards out to sum up another frustrating 90 minutes for Sam Allardyce’s side.
And Leicester, who saw late efforts from Drinkwater and substitute Daniel Amartey thwarted by Mannone, sealed the win as Vardy charged from the halfway line before prodding the ball around the Sunderland keeper and tucking in his 21st goal of a remarkable season.
With this win Leicester (42)are ten points clear from second placed Tottenham (32).