Leicester 'Hold' Sunderland, Complete Miraculous Escape

(MENAFN- Arab Times) Nigel Pearson could relax at last on Saturday as the Leicester manager saw his side complete a remarkable escape from almost certain relegation with the point from a 0-0 draw away at fellow strugglers Sunderland securing their place in the Premier League for next season.

Leicester - recording their fifth clean sheet in six matches - are four points above third from bottom Hull with just one match remaining having gone on an extraordinary run of six wins in their last eight matches.

Indeed their form has been such that it is only bettered in the rest of the European leagues by four teams Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bundesliga side Borrusia Moenchengladbach and French league leaders Paris Saint Germain.

The point also all but ensured Sunderland stay up after yet another battle against relegation, but under Dick Advocaat they have become hard to beat and this extended their unbeaten run to seven games.

They are three points clear of Hull - who host Manchester United in their final game next Sunday - with a slightly worse goal difference.

The first-half was a dour affair as well as defenders seemed content to concede freekicks rather than allow their opponents to get away and cause them damage - Danny Graham for the hosts breaking the tedium with a smart volley that almost brought him only his second goal for the club.

However, once again Schmeichel - son of former Denmark and Manchester United great Peter - was equal to the task.

Schmeichel had produced a first class save early on in the proceedings denying Sebastian Larsson, but the early promise shown by that skillful move was a false dawn.

The second-half proved to be as short of entertainment as the first, a result of the teams nerves that a mistake would keep them in the relegation battle down to the wire.

Sunderland pushed for a game breaker while Leicester seemed content to hold on for the point that would ensure their amazing escape reached its happy conclusion.

Sunderland's Adam Johnson went closest as the former England international, who had come on as a substitute, cut in from the flank but his shot while on target was saved by Kaspar Schmeichel.

Prior to that the best chance had fallen to Sunderland defender Patrick van Anholt but he sent his shot just wide of the post.

Spurs 2, Hull 0

In London, Tottenham Hotspur pushed Hull City closer to Premier League relegation with a 2-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

The game was sealed with two second-half goals in the space of seven minutes from Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose.

Victory kept Mauricio Pochettino's side on course for a Europa League place next season after seventh-placed Southampton put the pressure on Spurs by thrashing Aston Villa 6-1 in Saturday's early kick-off.

Tottenham, now a point ahead of the Saints, will assure themselves of a place in the Europa League if they win away to Everton a week on Sunday, the final day of the 2014/15 Premier League season.

Hull remained two points away from safety, and must now beat Manchester United at the KC Stadium next weekend to give themselves any hope of securing a third consecutive season in the Premier League.

Even before Saturday's kick-off, Hull's survival hopes had been dented when Jake Livermore was suspended on Friday after allegedly testing positive for cocaine.

Hull manager Steve Bruce brought back Nikica Jelavic to play alongside Dame N'Doye up front, with Sone Aluko dropped to the bench.

There was no lack of attacking intent from the visitors early on, with Dame N'Doye in particular asking questions down the right-hand flank.

Jelavic, starting his first game since March, gave the home side a warning when his half-volley from a cross by Ahmed Elmohamady struck the top of the bar.

Tottenham were also looking increasingly dangerous in attack, and Erik Lamela poked an effort wide when Ryan Mason did well to cut the ball back from the byline.

Hull remained comfortable, though, and took their clean sheet into the half-time break, giving Bruce little cause for concern.

The second half saw Hull even more on the attack than in the first period, the Tigers forcing a number of early corners that tested the home defence.

It was, therefore, somewhat of a sucker-punch for the strugglers to find themselves behind just under 10 minutes after the restart.

Lamela fed the ball to Chadli in the 54th minute and the Belgium midfielder was too quick for the Hull defence and put the hosts ahead after rounding onrushing goalkeeper Steve Harper. Hull's Premier League future looked even more bleak in the 61st minute when left-back Rose was able to beat the offside trap and volley in a lob from Mason from inside the penalty area.

It was a hammer blow for Hull, who replaced the tiring Jelavic with Uruguay striker Abel Hernandez in a bid to give them more impetus up front.

However, the two Spurs goals drained their overall effectiveness, with N'Doye putting one effort wide after a goalmouth scramble before blasting the ball over the crossbar.

Despite a continued commitment to attacking, Hull were unable to convert any further opportunities, leaving survival out of their hands.