Sunderland 2, Leicester City 1 - UNITED STATES skipper Claudio Reyna hit two priceless goals to earn Sunderland welcome breathing space in the battle for Premiership safety with a hard-fought victory over bottom-of-the table Leicester City at the Stadium of Light.

But there were some anxious moments against a side odds-on favourites for the drop into the First Division and Peter Reid's men - and their fans - were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle.

Reyna, who has proved to be a bargain buy since his £4.5 transfer from Glasgow Rangers in December, revelled in the amount of space afforded him by an uncertain Leicester outfit and he put the icing on the cake by hitting crucial goals early in the first half - and was denied a hat-trick by the thickness of the goalpost.

Former England keeper Ian Walker was the City hero, keeping them in the game with a series of inspired saves and Sunderland were never comfortable under some desperate second half pressure - though Leicester did not have the required punch in front of goal.

It was only Sunderland's second home win of the year - the other was against another relegation-threatened side, Bolton Wanderers - but it was a crucial result after recent set-backs had set the alarm bells ringing.

Sunderland got off to a perfect start when Reyna scored from nothing in the third minute. A throw-in on the left was helped on by Niall Quinn and the polished midfielder blasted an unstoppable first-time left-foot shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

It was Reyna's second goal since his transfer to Wearside and delighted the home fans, who expected the floodgates to open.

But the lead did not last long as Leicester equalised in the ninth minute with a scrambled goal. Darren Williams has been booked for a foul on Paul Dickov 22 yards out and when Stefan Oakes chipped in the free-kick central defender Matt Elliott headed down for goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to scoop the ball back from over the line and Dickov made sure by forcing the rebound home from close range.

It was a bizarre goal, but the Sunderland defending had to be questioned as the early initiative was lost.

The goal lifted City, who started to push forward with new-found confidence, and the Sunderland fans voiced their discontent as home passes started to go astray.

But Sunderland regained the lead - again through Reyna - in the 18th minute. Striker Kevin Phillips had been fouled 23 yards out and Reyna curled his free-kick over the defensive wall into the left-hand corner of the net, catching former England keeper Ian Walker totally unawares.

Sunderland, tails up again, were starting to knock the ball about confidently and Reyna was usually in the thick of the action.

But Sunderland manager Peter Reid left the dug-out to remonstrate with his players for leaving a gap at the back as City tried to catch their opponents with a quick counter-attack.

Sunderland put half a dozen passes together in midfielde before Kevin Kilbane whipped in a centre from the left, which Walker went down full-length to take.

Leicester were forced to make a change in the 29th minute when Muzzy Isset, suffering from a hamstring injury, was replaced by Jon Ashton.

Sorensen had to have treatment after a nasty clash near the edge of the box with Brian Deane, who was booked for a high challenge in the 31st minute.

The home fans were applauding Sunderland's efforts and there was a close call for City as Jason McAteer sent a glancing header just wide from 18 yards after a left wing corner from Michael Gray.

Sunderland nearly grabbed a third goal in the 35th minute when Kilbane latched on to a clearance from Frank Sinclair and unleashed a vicious left foot angled shot which Walker saved brilliantly.

The City goal was under a lot of pressure and there was another escape when Quinn headed down in the 39th minute and a first time right foot shot from McAteer struck Elliott on the legs and rebounded clear.

Sunderland went close twice in the space of a minute just before half time. A chest-down from Quinn brought a first-time right-foot volley from Phillips which Walker managed to push round the post and then Reyna was a fraction away from a hat-trick when a 22-yard right foot shot beat the keeper and clipped the outside of the upright.

Sorensen almost made a costly error when he lost possession on the edge of the box under pressure from Deane in the opening minute of the second half, but he was able to retrieve the ball.

City, however, were soon under pressure and again had to thank Walker for a fine save as he collected a fierce 25-yard shot from McAteer, unselfishly supplied by Reyna in the 49th minute.

But Sorensen was called upon to make an equally important save a minute later when Oakes tried his luck from 25 yards.

City were looking for an equaliser but they did not have much of a cutting edge up front, with Dickov getting no power behind a right foot shot which Sorensen saved on the line.

Phillips had no luck in the 55th minute when he did well in front of goal to quickly control a right wing centre from McAteer, but the ball bobbled at the crucial moment and he could only toe-end the ball straight at Walker.

Phillips almost claimed a killer goal for Sunderland in the 65th minute as he flicked in a shot with the outside of his right foot - but Walker managed to get a hand to the shot and collect the ball at the second attempt.

Sunderland needed a third because Leicester were fighting desperately to get back on terms, and there was a scare when Elliott, getting up high to a right wing centre, saw his header collected by Sorensen on the line.

Sorensen was under constant pressure in the final ten minutes, but City could just not get a break in front of goal, though there were several close calls.

There was a standing ovation for Reyna when he was replaced by Paul Thirlwell in the 85th minute after his major contribution to a badly-needed victory.

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