Match Report: Leicester City 1 - 0 Sunderland

Recap

Leicester City won an extremely tight match against Sunderland by a score of 1-0 at the King Power on Tuesday evening. James Justin rose to meet a corner and provided the match’s only goal in the first half. The Black Cats mounted a furious charge in the second period but couldn’t find a way through the Foxes’ back line.

The result may look familiar, but this match was nothing like most of the matches we’ve played this season. Sunderland were having none of our passing game, pressing us and forcing mistakes all over the pitch. We had the best chances, but we by no means had the most chances. It was good to see the team (and the fans) respond positively to a real scrap, but I doubt the gaffer will be pleased by our failure to impose our style of play at home.

Guess who guessed wrong?

While I’m reading minds here, I presume he will be happy with the performance of Cesare Casadei. The Chelsea loanee looked a different class tonight and was desperately unlucky not to bag a brace. Hermansen was forced to earn his clean sheet tonight, and he was up to the task. I thought both wingers, Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi, were outstanding in attack and minding their defensive duties. There was a lot to like tonight even if it wasn’t the most dominant performance.

The win gives the Foxes 12 wins in 13 matches, good for 36 points. We’re 8 points clear of Ipswich (2 games in hand) and 14 ahead of Leeds (1 game in hand). This also means we have surpassed last season’s total of 34 points, a fact which speaks volumes about both campaigns. We’re off to Selhurst Park this Saturday to face Queens Park Rangers. The following Friday, we host Leeds United at the King Power.

Lineups

Leicester City: Mads Hermansen, James Justin, Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, Ricardo Pereira (C), Harry Winks, Cesare Casadei, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Abdul Fatawu, Stephy Mavididi, Kelechi Iheanacho

Sunderland: Anthony Patterson, Luke O’Nien, Danny Ballard, Daniel Neil, Trai Hume, Niall Huggins, Jobe Bellingham, Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke, Pierre Ekwah, Mason Burstow

Key Moments and Notes

1’- The starting XI may not look like a big change from what we saw last weekend in Wales, but it looks as though Justin and Ricardo have switched sides. This means Winks shifts to the right side of the double pivot. In addition, Faes and Vestergaard have changed places as well. Interesting.

8’- The visitors have the first chance of the match, and it’s a good one. The ball falls to Jack Clarke on the edge of the six-yard box. Hermansen makes himself big and parries the powerful effort, but the Foxes got away with one there.

12’- GOAL! The Foxes win back-to-back corners. KDH’s outswinger finds Justin rising above the throng at the near post. The keeper has no chance as he plants a bullet just under the crossbar.

Um, spoiler alert?

16’- Close! Vestergaard wins the ball deep in the Sunderland half (yes, yes, I know…just go with it), tapping it to KDH. He finds Mavididi on the left in space. He takes the shot himself it’s a beaut, with the keeper just getting a finger to it to turn it onto the post and out to safety.

31’- The Black Cats’ press causing problems for City. A turnover in the Leicester have finds Clarke with the ball in some space. He tries to curl in a shot from distance. Bellingham gets a toe to it, deflecting it and making things awkward for Hermansen, but he’s equal to the task.

39’- Close! A fantastic crossfield pass from Faes finds Casadei alone in the area. He heads down for Iheanacho, who hits it first time. It’s a screamer that Patterson gets a fingertip to and tips it onto the post again. Sunderland have been good, but Patterson’s the only reason it isn’t 3-0 to the Foxes.

45’- Faes gets away with one as Burstow, um, bursts into the area and goes over from the Belgian’s challenge. It looks like a good tackle in real time, but the replay shows that Faes didn’t get near the ball. It also shows the ball running out of play as Burstow turns away from the ball to go over Wout’s leg. You’ve seen them given...

HALF-TIME: Leicester City 1 - 0 Sunderland

47’- Close x 2! Patterson comes to the rescue of the Black Cats twice in quick succession. Casadei is the unfortunate victim of both saves. A floated cross is knocked down by a Sunderland defender directly to the Italian 8 yards out. His first-time effort comes off of the keeper’s boot when it appeared to be going in. The ensuing corner winds up pinballing in the area and is pulled back for Casadei. His contact isn’t the best, but it’s awkward, goalbound, and ultimately, well-saved.

53’- It’s getting a little tetchy now. Vestergaard and O’Nein go into the book for a scuffle prior to a corner. Hume follows them into the book for a poor challenge on Dewsbury-Hall. The most interesting part is that the crowd at the King Power are in exceptional voice tonight, roaring at every challenge. This is fun.

Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

66’- A minute of applause for Sir Bobby Charlton. Appropriately, this is also Jamie Vardy comes on for the Seniorman.

70’- Fatawu wins the Foxes a free kick on the edge of the area, but it’s absolutely a stonewall penalty. He beats all ends up so the defender grabs him by his shirt. This barely slows the Ghanaian, so the shirt-tugging carries on for about five yards into the area. The free kick is cleared for a corner and the corner comes to naught.

78’-Close! Niall wins the ball in midfield, drives forward, and drives the ball across goal. Hermansen can’t get to it, but it drifts wide of the far post and out. The stoppage allows Maresca to make his second change, introducing Marc Albrighton for Fatawu.

82’-Close! Hermansen comes for a loose ball in the area, but substitute Abdullah Ba gets there first. It’s not the easiest angle, but he should hit the target from there. Hitting the target would have been lethal as the said target was wholly unattended.

85’- Ouch! Justin takes an elbow to the temple and is bleeding profusely. He and Mavididi come off for Hamza Choudhury and Patson Daka.

90’- Five minutes of time are added, most of which are for the treatment Justin received on the pitch.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 1 - 0 Sunderland