Having seen Norwich City and Newcastle both lose again yesterday, Sunderland can take a big step towards Premier League safety with a win this afternoon against Leicester City and they might just get one despite tackling the surprise leaders.
The Black Cats have been threatening to break free from the struggles at the bottom for some weeks now and how they didn’t beat West Bromwich Albion last time out was a mystery.
Visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster was the star man at the Stadium of Light in the goalless draw, as the hosts squandered chance after chance, and it resulted in a fourth consecutive stalemate for Sunderland in the English top flight.
It is wins Sam Allardyce and his players need now however and, while Leicester City are hardly the ideal opponents, a victory of the Foxes in the north-east would take them ten points clear at the summit, Sunderland would really put the heat on the Canaries and Magpies should they land the maximum.
Despite occupying a place in the drop zone, the Black Cats boast the fifth best home defensive record in the division and Claudio Ranieri’s title-chasing heroes are unlikely to have things all their own way in what is unquestionably the weekend’s most significant clash.
It certainly hasn’t been easy for Leicester in recent weeks but the 1-0 beating of Southampton last Saturday was their fifth by that scoreline in their previous six matches and they must be applauded for refusing to bend under the pressure that surely comes with achieving such a feat.
The 5,000/1 ante post outsiders are seemingly grinding their way to glory but Sunderland will hopefully make life tougher for the away team than the Saints did seven days ago, Southampton’s motivation was absent at the King Power Stadium, and Leicester are there to be taken on at around the 5/4 mark.
It’s unlikely to be pretty but a home win for Sunderland would also give second placed Tottenham a boost ahead of their match with Manchester United later in the day at White Hart Lane and it promises to be another compelling afternoon of Premier League viewing.
3pts Lay Leicester (vs. Sunderland) @ 2.30 (Betfair)
