Claudio Ranieri says Leicester are battling relegation

Claudio Ranieri conceded Leicester must focus on avoiding relegation after their faltering Premier League defence took another hit away to Sunderland.

Robert Huth's own goal and a Jermain Defoe strike helped Sunderland win 2-1 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Shinji Ozakaki reduced the deficit with ten minutes to go, but Sunderland held on to beat Leicester after late Jordan Pickford heroics denied Wes Morgan.

The result leaves Leicester in 15th, with Ranieri reiterating that the champions are facing a battle to remain in the top-tier.

"For us it's very important to stay in the Premier League," Ranieri told Sky Sports after the match. "That is our focus now. We know we lost a battle, but there are a lot of battles to go.

"We wanted to get a point of course. They started better and the first 10 minutes were very difficult for us. They had a lot of shots.

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"After, we got better and created some chances. The first goal was unbelievable and nothing is going in the right way for us.

"We got back in the game with Okazaki's goal and we tried to do our best, but the goalkeeper made a very fantastic save."

Leicester have picked up just two points in their last five league games, having last tasted victory on October 22.

The Foxes' return of 13 points is the second worst record after 14 games of any defending champion in top-flight history - after Ipswich in 1962/63 (12 points).

"The spirit is good," Ranieri added. "We are fighting but at this moment nothing is going right.

"In this bad moment, it's much better to continue to work hard during training, stay together, and sooner or later it will get better.

"It is strange, because we play well but things don't go right."