- Leicester City sealed a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday- Jamie Vardy's 13th goal of the season, in the 13th minute, was the difference- The iconic No.9 explained the significance of the win at full-time
In the 13th minute, Vardy's header put City ahead at the Stadium and Light and it remained 1-0 throughout to end a run of three successive league defeats. Leicester are also still five points ahead of third in the second tier standings. "Itâs big," Vardy said afterwards. "Itâs the first time this season weâve had three defeats in a row, so it was important to bounce back and weâve done that here tonight. Weâve put a shift in and weâve had to dig in deep in that second half.
"I donât know if [losing three games in a row] was a confidence thing, it was more that weâve not been used to it. The gaffer always says that we need to remain that this was a new project at the start of the season.
"To be in the position that weâre in, with how we work on the training field and then transfer that into games, itâs been good. Weâve had a little blip and we just want to keep getting those wins.
"It's not happened in the previous weeks, but weâve got one tonight and now itâs all about recovering and getting ready for Hull on Saturday."
Vardy's 13th goal of the season was ultimately the winner in the North East and he went on to offer an insight into the goal.
"Itâs just getting connection and, nine times out of 10, youâre bracing yourself to get clattered by the defender," he added.
"When itâs like that and itâs coming that way, you have to obviously head it back to where the âkeeperâs come from and, as soon as Iâve done that, Iâve watch it just loop in."
He has an impressive record against the Black Cats but the 37-year-old doesn't mind who he scores against, so long as he nets.
"I like playing against everyone as long as Iâm playing football," the No.9 explained. "Obviously, being a striker, thatâs what you want to be doing. You want to be scoring goals and, fortunately, Iâve managed to get the winner tonight."
Taken off late on, Vardy also detailed the importance of the players on the bench as Leicester held on for the points.
"Iâm horrible when Iâm sat in that dugout!" the forward said. "You want to be on the pitch, but youâre still there. Youâre being as vocal as you can, youâre trying to get the lads going. If weâre a bit deep, youâre trying to push them up.
"Youâre still shouting, youâre still feeling like youâre involved. Thatâs from every one of the lads. Itâs a close-knit group and itâs good that the voices are not only out there. Theyâre on the bench as well and it just keeps everyone going."