Source: PA
Black Cats mauled by Foxes
A first-half blitz from Leicester blew away Sunderland to hand new boss Claudio Ranieri a dream start.Riyad Mahrez's double and Jamie Vardy's opener earned the Foxes an easy 4-2 win over the wretched Black Cats.England striker Vardy's header and Mahrez's brace, one coming from the penalty spot, put Leicester in complete control after just 25 minutes.Jermain Defoe pulled one back but Marc Albrighton ended the contest with the Foxes' fourth, even though Steven Fletcher made it 4-2.The win gave Ranieri, who replaced Nigel Pearson in the summer, his first win in charge in his first Premier League game in 11 years.The Italian gave Shinji Okazaki his Foxes bow but fellow new-boys Christian Fuchs, Yohan Benalouane and N'Golo Kante were on the bench while Jeremain Lens and Younes Kaboul started for the Black Cats.However, it was one of the stars of last season who fired Leicester into a 12th minute lead.Ranieri had challenged Vardy to score more goals after he netted five last season - earning an England call - and the forward responded instantly when he flicked Albrighton's free-kick across goal and the Black Cats allowed it to bounce in off the woodwork. It came after Kasper Schmeichel, a spectator for most of the half, denied Defoe from point-blank range after the striker wriggled free in the sixth minute.But that was the only fear for the Foxes as they took total control inside half an hour.Mahrez saw a shot deflect wide off Kaboul but eventually doubled Leicester's lead on 18 minutes when he powered in a 12-yard header from Albrighton's cross.And seven minutes later he made it 3-0 when, after being brought down in the area by Lee Cattermole, the Algerian international sent Costel Pantilimon the wrong way from the spot.Dick Advocaat responded by replacing Cattermole with Fletcher but it failed to give the visitors any foothold in a game which was already lost.And Danny Drinkwater almost added a fourth from distance when his effort was palmed away a minute before half time.There was little Leicester let-up and Mahrez continued to torture Sunderland after the break as he turned them inside out before hitting the post 10 minutes after the restart.Pantilimon then saved from Vardy and Mahrez as Leicester threatened to embarrass the visitors.But they pulled a goal back against the run of play on 60 minutes when Adam Johnson slipped Defoe in to fire into the corner from 10 yards.Suddenly Defoe was alive and Schmeichel was forced into a smart low save two minutes later with Leicester rattled.Albrighton made it 4-1 with 25 minutes left. The visitors failed to clear Mahrez's cross and, when Vardy's presence caused problems, the ball fell to Albrighton to drill in from the edge of the area. The goal rush continued five minutes later, though, when Fletcher made it 4-2, heading into an empty net after Defoe lobbed Schmeichel.It kept the Foxes on their toes and Okazaki was denied a debut goal by Kaboul's block with four minutes left.TWEET OF THE MATCH"Just nipped outside at half-time to see that #SAFC have kept the engine running."BBC commentator Connor McNamara posts a picture of the Sunderland team coach.https://twitter.com/ConorMcNamaraIE/status/630029617215184896 PLAYER RATINGS Leicester: Kasper Schmeichel: 7 (Out of 10)Ritchie De Laet: 7Wes Morgan: 7Robert Huth: 7Jeff Schlupp: 7Mark Albrighton: 8Danny Drinkwater: 7Andy King: 7Riyad Mahrez: 9Shinji Okazaki: 7Jamie Vardy: 8Subs:Yohan Benalouane: 6Christian Fuchs: 6N'Golo Kante: 6SunderlandCostel Pantilimon: 7Billy Jones: 5Sebastian Coates: 5Younes Kaboul: 5Patrick Van Aanholt: 5Jack Rodwell: 5Lee Cattermole: 4Sebastian Larsson: 5Jeremain Lens: 5Jermain Defoe: 6Adam Johnson: 5Subs:Steven Fletcher : 6Adam Matthews: 6STAR PLAYERRiyad Mahrez: The Algeria international ran Sunderland ragged all afternoon and deserved a hat-trick. His first-half brace put Leicester in complete control and he was only denied the match ball by the woodwork and fine saves from Costel Pantilimon. The Foxes need to prove they can maintain their form from last season and Mahrez, one of their stars from their Great Escape, will be key. MOMENT OF THE MATCHKasper Schmeichel: Had little to do all game but he laid the foundations for Leicester's win with a vital sixth-minute save. Jermain Defoe had wriggled free in the area only to be denied by the keeper from point black range with the score still 0-0. Six minutes later and the Foxes' rout began but only after Schmeichel had given them a platform. VIEW FROM THE BENCHDick Advocaat is third favourite to be the first Barclays Premier League manager to be sacked this season and his odds will not have improved after seeing his side's first-half collapse. Opposite number Claudio Ranieri could not have wished for a better start at Leicester after replacing Nigel Pearson this summer. The Italian needs to impress to silence the doubters after his surprise appointment and certainly got off to the best start. MOAN OF THE MATCHClaudio Ranieri will be delighted with a debut victory in charge of Leicester but is sure to be annoyed at conceding twice to a Sunderland side who were beaten inside the opening 25 minutes. There seemed little danger to the Foxes' backline but Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher pounced when the hosts switched off in the second half. It will only be a mild concern but Ranieri will want perfection from his new side. NEXT UP West Ham v Leicester (Premier League, Saturday August 15) Sunderland v Norwich (Premier League, Saturday August 15)