WHEN Sunderland were sweeping all before them last month, Tony Mowbray warned that the competitive nature of the Championship meant that a run of three successive defeats was probably ‘just around the corner’. It has arrived, and it will be a test of Mowbray’s young side to see how they cope with the downturn in results.

There have been mitigating factors behind the run of three losses, most notably in terms of Dan Neil’s red card which proved so influential in the derby defeat to Middlesbrough, and any disappointment at last night’s defeat to Leicester should be tempered by an acceptance of the quality of the opposition.

Leicester’s eight-point lead at the top of the Championship reflects their superiority above all their rivals in the opening three months of the season, and it is to Sunderland’s credit that they pushed the league leaders so hard last night. On another evening, Neil might well have had a penalty in first-half stoppage time and one of Jack Clarke’s customary low drives might have found the net.

As it was, James Justin’s first-half header proved decisive, although Sunderland were indebted to Anthony Patterson for three fine saves that kept them within touching distance of their hosts. Patterson’s shot-stopping skills repeatedly came to his side’s rescue when Leicester’s fluent forward play sliced through the Black Cats’ defence.

The final scoreline suggests there was not too much between the two sides on the pitch, but while Sunderland and Leicester might be competing as equals in the Championship this season, the reality is that the two clubs are operating on completely different levels in terms of their finances and respective squad depths.

With more than £45m of parachute payments to cushion the blow of last season’s relegation, Leicester have been able to keep a Premier League squad intact. Last night’s home bench featured England internationals Conor Coady and Jamie Vardy, Scotland international Harry Souttar and a £23m striker in the shape of Zambia international Patson Daka. Not bad for a side competing in the second tier.

Leicester’s record so far this season suggests they are comfortably the best team in the Championship, so they don’t exactly need a helping hand to make their superiority count. Twelve minutes into last night’s game, though, and that is exactly what they received from Sunderland.

Pierre Ekwah switched off as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall swung over a corner from the left, enabling Justin to break off him and dart towards the front post. Even then, the danger might have been averted had Jobe Bellingham been alert to the developing situation, but the Black Cats midfielder caught flat-footed, Justin was able to power home a clinical header.

With Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi offering a considerable attacking threat on either side of Leicester’s central striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, Sunderland’s defence was stretched on a number of occasions.

Mavididi managed to isolate himself one-on-one on Trai Hume six minutes after his side’s opener, and his low strike would have found the net had it not been for the slightest of touches off Patterson’s foot, with the Sunderland goalkeeper successfully diverting the ball onto the post.

Leicester struck the woodwork again six minutes before the interval, and again, the slightest of touches from Patterson appeared to be decisive. Cesare Casadei nudged Wout Faes’ floated pass into the path of Kelechi Iheanacho, and Patterson just got his fingertips to the striker’s low effort, flicking the ball onto the base of the right-hand upright.

Sunderland’s best first-half opportunity came before Leicester’s opener, with Clarke finding space on the left-hand side of the area as Luke O’Nien slid over a low cross from the right. Clarke found the target after steadying himself, but Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen kept the ball out with his right hand.

Hermansen thwarted Clarke again towards the end of the first half, using his legs to block a low shot that took an awkward deflection off Faes, and as has been the case in so many Sunderland games this season, it was nearly always Clarke asking the most serious questions of the opposition defence. It goes without saying that the Black Cats must do all they can to keep the 22-year-old on Wearside if Premier League clubs come calling in January.

Neil is another of Sunderland’s youngsters who could well have top-flight suitors at the turn of the year, and the midfielder, who was back in the side after suspension, felt he should have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Faes certainly didn’t touch the ball as he slid in and helped bring Neil crashing to the ground, but referee Keith Stroud awarded a corner rather than a spot-kick.

It felt like a harsh call on Sunderland – not for the first time in the last few weeks – but if anything, it sparked Leicester into renewed life at the start of the second half.

Cesare Casadei wasted a great opportunity when he fired a ten-yard shot straight at Patterson after Dan Ballard’s poor defensive header played his side into trouble, but there was nothing wrong with Casadei’s effort less than 60 seconds later which was heading in before Patterson turned the ball around the post. On a night when the Wearsiders were always going to be tested, their goalkeeper was keeping them in the game.

At the other end, Clarke and Patrick Roberts were a threat on the break, but Mason Burstow once again flattered to deceive in the central attacking position. Sunderland might have brought in four strikers during the summer, but the lack of an effective number nine continues to hold them back.

The Black Cats’ best chance of a leveller came with seven minutes left, but substitute Abdoullah Ba fired over from the left of the penalty area.