Jamie Vardy puts Leicester Step Ahead

Striker ends six-game goal drought against a Championship-bound Sunderland side.

As the final whistle blew, half the pitch remained bathed in glorious spring sunshine but the rest was shrouded in deep shadow. On a day when hope and fear collided, when Leicester City moved within touching distance of a most unexpected title and Sunderland were shoved a step near to relegation, it seemed a wholly appropriate image.

Claudio Ranieri’s side were far from at their best and, for lengthy periods, Sam Allardyce’s team held their own and played quite well but Leicester possessed Jamie Vardy and his two goals were sufficient to at least preserve that formidable lead over Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the table. For Sunderland, everything now surely hinges on their trip to Norwich City on Saturday.

Tottenham really have their work cut out now – and so, too, do Sunderland.