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Ranieri accepts Leicester face relegation battle

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri warned the Premier League champions that they are in a relegation battle after slumping to a 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Sunderland.

In a frantic second-half at the Stadium of Light, an own goal from Robert Huth and Jermain Defoe's strike put Sunderland in control, with Shinji Okazaki's reply for Leicester rendered a mere consolation.

David Moyes' side have been resurgent in recent weeks and now have three wins in four league fixtures, but Leicester are on an eight-match winless run in the top-flight.

And Ranieri acknowledged his side are in a battle to avoid the drop.