ON an afternoon when fans from both sides remembered Britain's wartime heroes and Leicester supporters the untimely passing of one of their own it was perhaps fitting that the game itself was the least memorable event.

Ultimately, three points are three points and with three of Sunderland's four nearest rivals also winning it is such games that can tip the balance at the end of a season.

When Leicester's stand-in keeper Kevin Pressman - accurately but cruelly nicknamed the Roly Goalie - failed to gain lift-off at a Dean Whitehead corner Stephen Caldwell was on hand to head home a 69th minute winner.

Mick McCarthy, the Sunderland manager, believed his side were the better of the two and they certainly could not be faulted for effort and commitment, but, even with the impetus provided by a new man at the helm, the Black Cats should have had too much quality for a Leicester side who are now fully 13 places behind in the Championship.

If the decisive goal was largely - no pun intended - down to Pressman, deputising for the injured Ian Walker, Caldwell at least was not about to point the finger.

"I am certainly not going to have a go at a guy like Pressman who has been in the game far longer than me and has achieved bigger things than me," said the amiable Scot. "I can't really remember the goal, I just know that I got above him and I am delighted about it."

Reflecting on the game as a whole, Caldwell agreed it had been hard work. "It was a difficult game and it was always going to be hard," he said. "But we felt we could win and luckily we have."

Caldwell said as a central defender scoring was, obviously, not his main focus.

"I don't practice it," he said. "I try to practice keeping the goals out and I am happier with a clean sheet in a way, just as long as somebody scores. I am pleased with my goal but it's not the most important thing for me."

Leicester began the game the brighter, perhaps in part down to the death of Foxes legend Keith Weller on Friday night.

The former City and England star, who made 305 appearances and scored 47 goals for the East Midlands club, passed away after a long battle against illness at the age of 58.

A minute's silence was held before the start but the actions of a minority of Sunderland fans ensured the home supporters were fired up when proceedings got underway.

As if in response to their backing, former Newcastle winger Keith Gillespie surged down the right in the opening minute and fired in a crisp shot from the angle. Thomas Myhre, whose deputy on the day was 16-year-old Trevor Carson due to injuries to Mart Poom and Ben Alnwick, collected cleanly at his near post.

Sunderland were nearly the architects of their own downfall nine minutes later when, after passing directly to Gillespie from a free-kick in his own half, skipper Gary Breen hauled the Northern Ireland international down some 22 yards from goal after a rampaging run.

Lilian Nalis' free-kick went straight into the wall but Breen's booking for the foul meant he had to be on his best behaviour for the rest of the afternoon.

David Connolly, a Sunderland target before he opted for the Walkers Stadium, showed why McCarthy had coveted him, when he fizzed a long-range shot past a static Myhre, but, to the Norwegian's relief, past the post.

It took 21 minutes for the Black Cats to register a strike on target but Stephen Elliott's effort lacked power.

Elliott was the centre of attention again moments later when he went down when confronted by another ex-Magpie, Nikos Dabizas.

The Greek reacted furiously, accusing the frontman of diving but though replays showed he had not touched Elliott, the referee thought differently and brandished the yellow card.

Dean Whitehead fired wide from a good position and his profligacy almost cost the away side in the 28th minute.

The ball was headed down to striker James Scowcroft eight yards out and, acrobatically adjusting his body to the bouncing ball, he fired goalwards. Myhre looked to be struggling but Caldwell anticipated well and flung his head instinctively in the path of the ball to deflect it wide.

After going in at the break level, Sunderland sought to step up a gear at the restart.

A Jeff Whitley shot was deflected in the direction of Carl Robinson but as he shaped to shoot a terrific intervention by Jordan Stewart kept the score goalless.

The turning point came with the withdrawal of Sunderland's Stewart in favour of Chris Brown.

Almost immediately he had Pressman diving low to prevent his 20 yard effort finding the net.

His next effort was largely responsible for the victory. Picking up the ball on the left, he hit a looping shot goalward which Pressman did well to tip over.

From the corner, however, Pressman undid his good work by failing to lay a hand on Whitehead's centre and allowing Caldwell to score from the simplest of headers.

The Cats had their tails up and Elliott and Brown - who hit the angle of post and bar with Pressman beaten - came close to a second.

However, in added time the points might have been shared had Connolly's shot not hit the bar and the linesman not had his flag raised for a marginal offside.

With Sunderland consolidating fourth place, Caldwell now wants his team-mates to set themselves an even loftier target.

"The table's looking better, it's not looking great, we want to be first or certainly second at worst," he said. "But it's bunching up a bit again and Wigan don't seem quite as invincible as they did three weeks ago. It's a massive game on Sunday against Ipswich.''

Result: Leicester City 0 Sunderland 1.