Younes Kaboul: Sunderland have to beat Leicester after WBA draw

Sunderland’s goalless draw against West Brom, coupled with Norwich City’s win over relegation rivals Newcastle United, left the Black Cats four points adrift of Premier League safety, albeit they still boast a game in hand.

Sam Allardyce’s men face a huge encounter at Norwich in a fortnight, but before then league leaders Leicester are the visitors to the Stadium of Light next weekend.

And centre-half Kaboul says after Sunderland’s failure to register three points against the Baggies, the Leicester clash has become a must-win game for the Black Cats.

“Now we need to beat Leicester at home next week,” said Kaboul.

“We’ve got no choice.

“Norwich’s win, doesn’t matter. We need to focus on ourselves, that’s the most important thing.”

Centre-half Kaboul helped Sunderland register a first clean sheet since November, yet that feat was only minor comfort after Allardyce’s men couldn’t find a breakthrough at the other end, with Baggies keeper Ben Foster making a succession of excellent saves.

“Big-time, it’s an opportunity missed,” added Kaboul.

“If their keeper wasn’t as good as he was, then we would have won the game.

“But we showed desire, a good mentality and just needed a goal to get the win.

“I don’t think we’ve created that many chances in a game all season.

“It was the goalkeeper’s day.

“We gave everything, all the players gave everything on the pitch.”