JERMAIN DEFOE’S eighth goal of the season proved decisive to help Sunderland claim back-to-back wins at the Stadium of Light for only the second time in three seasons.

The prolific striker pounced with 13 minutes remaining to put the Black Cats two goals up after Jan Kirchhoff’s header in the 64th minute had bounced off Robert Huth into his own net to frustrate Leicester City.

The defending champions, a different outfit this season, did pull one back moments later through substitute Shinji Okazaki but Sunderland had done enough to earn the win which lifts them to within two points of the Foxes.

Sunderland climbed up three places to boost confidence ahead of the run up to Christmas, although they do remain in the relegation zone despite winning three of their last four matches.

Sunderland made a fine start, but were unable to make the most of the pressure or the chances they created.

The best of their first half opportunities fell to Victor Anichebe when he saw a low goalbound strike brilliantly turned behind for a corner by Wes Morgan’s block.

But Moyes, who had only made one change and that was to return Papy Djilobodji to the starting line-up ahead of John O’Shea, had every reason to be positive in those exchanges, with some good movement on display.

However, Leicester still have the attacking talent to worry any Premier League defence even if they might not be as dangerous and free-scoring as they were last season.

Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy got more into things as the first half wore on and the Foxes could and perhaps should have gone ahead.

After Mahrez’s run down the right and cross came close to reaching Vardy in the area, the latter then did have a fantastic chance that he would have buried earlier this year.

Vardy, without a goal in 15 matches beforehand, rose unmarked in the box before glancing Christian Fuchs’ delivery from the left just wide of Jordan Pickford’s left hand post.

The miss meant Sunderland, who still looked keen to attack, could still be satisfied with a goalless scoreline at the break; even though Fuchs’ mishit cross on the stroke of the whistle from the left almost curled straight in when it hit the upright.

Moyes introduced Seb Larsson and Kirchhoff at the break because of injuries to Steven Pienaar and Jason Denayer and they overcame a slow start to the second half by edging ahead 26 minutes before the end.

Larsson’s corner was perfect for Kirchhoff and even though he failed to connect properly the touch was enough for it to ricochet off Huth and drop over the line.

There was a penalty shout waved away moments later as well by referee Andre Marriner when Patrick van Aanholt went down in the box under a challenge from Danny Simpson; there was clearly contact too.

Better was to come for Sunderland when Defoe did what he does best and found the net. He may not have had too many chances, but he was on hand to instinctively convert the loose ball in the area after Watmore’s initial shot was blocked with 13 minutes remaining.

That should have been Sunderland home and hosed. However, Leicester found a way to make things interesting when Demarai Gray’s cross from the left three minutes later was finely turned in by fellow substitute Okazaki.

When Leicester threatened to leave with a point, Pickford made a stunning one handed save from close range to stop Morgan’s effort from finding a way through – leaving the home fans singing ‘he’s one of our own’.

SUNDERLAND (4-3-2-1): Pickford; Jones, Kone, Djilobodji, van Aanholt; Ndong, Denayer (Larsson 46), Pienaar (Kirchhoff 46); Watmore (Manquillo 85), Anichebe: Defoe. Subs: Mannone (gk), O’Shea, Januzaj, Khazri.

LEICESTER CITY (4-4-1-1): Zieler; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez (Musa 73), Amartey, King, Albrighton (Gray 73); Slimani (Okazaki 68), Vardy. Subs: Hamer, Hernandez, Schlupp, Mendy.