Premier League: Foxes eye Sunderland feast

Kasper Schmeichel says Leicester’s rock solid defence is the secret to the shock leaders’ remarkable charge towards a fairytale Premier League title.

Claudio Ranieri’s side are within touching distance of becoming the most unexpected champions in English football history as they head to struggling Sunderland on Sunday and Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel has no doubts he and the four men immediately in front of him will lay the foundation for another priceless victory.

Chelsea captain John Terry this week named seven Leicester players in his vote for the PFA’s team of the year and three of those nominations were for Schmeichel and the club’s centre-backs Wes Morgan and Robert Huth.

If the Foxes win at the Stadium of Light they will open up a 10-point lead over second placed Tottenham, who will then have to beat Manchester United at White Hart Lane later on Sunday to have any chance of remaining in the hunt.

Tottenham have no margin for error after last weekend’s draw at Liverpool, which featured an exquisite equaliser from Harry Kane but also the frustration of failing to finish off the Reds.

Arsenal, in third place, make the short trip across London to face West Ham knowing they must win to maintain their slender hopes of a first title since 2004.

Manchester City, clinging onto fourth place, will hope the confidence gained from their gritty 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first leg draw at Paris Saint Germain can provide the impetus to see off West Bromwich Albion at Eastlands.