Leicester City's resurgence under Craig Shakespeare continued on Tuesday as they beat bottom club Sunderland 2-0 to record a sixth successive win since the dismissal of manager Claudio Ranieri.
Champions Leicester are now 10th, a healthy nine points above the bottom three, after sinking Sunderland to record a fifth league win in a row.
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Substitute Islam Slimani opened the scoring with a 69th-minute header before the revitalised Jamie Vardy smashed in his sixth goal in seven games from Marc Albrighton's pass.
Defeat completed a miserable few days for Sunderland manager David Moyes, who had to apologise after being caught on camera threatening to "slap" a female television reporter.
"I'm just grateful for the club's support," Moyes said.
"As far as I'm concerned the matter's finished."
Sunderland lie eight points from safety with eight games of the season remaining.
George Boyd struck as Burnley boosted their survival hopes by beating Stoke City 1-0, while goals from M'Baye Niang and skipper Troy Deeney earned 10-man Watford a 2-0 home win over West Brom.
The Clarets are in 12th place with 35 points, eight points clear of 18th-ranked Hull City, who have played a game less.