Match Analysis: Sunderland 0-0 Leicester City

Neither Sunderland nor Leicester City could find the net during a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

The hosting Black Cats created a couple of good chances during the first half, while the Foxes looked to utilise their pace on the counter-attack whenever possible.

Here, Sports Mole has looked back over the encounter to determine if the result was a fair one, or whether one side deserved to claim all three points.

Match statistics

SUNDERLAND Shots: 13 On target: 3 Possession: 51% Corners: 8 Fouls: 14

LEICESTER Shots: 11 On target: 0 Possession: 49% Corners: 9 Fouls: 15

Was the result fair?

The home side may have created more and slightly better chances, but Kasper Schmeichel was not forced into making an outstanding save. Everything that the Dane had to do was relatively routine for a goalkeeper of his calibre. What's more, the possession was almost equal and so it's hard to split these two sides. A draw was fair.

Sunderland's performance

Dick Advocaat's men started off at a good pace, but they failed to make the most of their chances, with Danny Graham in particular guilty of wasting a couple of good openings. In hindsight, it's difficult to imagine that Jermain Defoe would have missed those chances, but he was once again played out wide and struggled to get involved.

The clean sheet will of course be pleasing for Advocaat, but he will be frustrated overall because a win would have guaranteed his side Premier League survival with two tricky-looking games to come.

Leicester's performance

While this performance was perhaps not as memorable as other recent outings in this impressive run of results, it was equally impressive, albeit for different reasons.

During the first half, the pace and movement of Jamie Vardy threatened to cause problems, but too often the final ball was lacking. That continued after the restart, but there was at least more purpose about Leicester's play in an attacking sense.

What will have delighted Nigel Pearson is the way that his team defended. They gave little away and when they did, Schmeichel was on hand to thwart the danger. It's a result that has secured Premier League football next term, which is a remarkable achievement given where they were just a few weeks ago.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Marc Albrighton: Once again the former Aston Villa player excelled in the right wing-back position. He got forward ever so well and caused plenty of problems, so much so that he was fouled by Sunderland players on a number of occasions. Albrighton has ended this season well and should be heading into next term with plenty of confidence.

Biggest gaffe

Of course, it could have been even better for the visitors when a golden chance fell to substitute Andrej Kramaric in stoppage time. Following an error by Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, the Leicester striker had the goal at his mercy, but he somehow missed the target.

Referee performance

Martin Atkinson wasn't shy to brandish his yellow card, even during the first half. But, to his credit, every caution was warranted. It was a decent outing from the man with the whistle.

What next?

Sunderland: The Black Cats play their game in hand on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. Then, the season concludes with a trip to champions Chelsea.

Leicester: Meanwhile, the curtain will come down on Leicester's season next Sunday afternoon at home to already relegated Queens Park Rangers.