Sunderland moved out of the relegation zone courtesy of a 3-1 victory over 10-man Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this evening.
Steven Fletcher opened the scoring for his side with a fine header in the first half, but the Black Cats were again left cursing defensive errors following the break when Wes Brown scored an own goal.
However, they would not cost Sunderland the points this time around, as Jordi Gomez restored their lead before Fletcher doubled his personal tally in stoppage time to put the game to bed having seen Mile Jedinak sent off for the hosts.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at whether the visitors were worthy of their first away win of the season.
Match statistics
CRYSTAL PALACE
Shots: 9
On target: 1
Possession: 53%
Corners: 11
Fouls: 12
SUNDERLAND
Shots: 8
On target: 7
Possession: 47%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 19
Was the result fair?
This one was a very topsy-turvy encounter, with both sides spending time in the ascendency. Palace began the match very brightly and should have had a penalty after just 25 seconds when Santiago Vergini brought down Fraizer Campbell inside the box, and that could have made it a very different game.
Sunderland grew into the first half, though, and while their opening goal came against the run of play, they went on to create the better chances and deserved their lead at the break. However, Palace came out flying in the second half and bombarded the Sunderland box for more than 20 minutes after the restart.
There was an air of inevitability about their goal, but once again they allowed Sunderland back into the match. The hosts had the majority of the ball this evening, but they failed to use it well enough despite the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie weaving their way into good positions. Sunderland were more effective in the final third and, on the balance of chances created, deserve the three points tonight.
Crystal Palace's performance
Neil Warnock may be left bemoaning a number of refereeing decisions tonight, and he would certainly have a point, but his side had enough of the ball to have been able to win this match. They were very much on top at the start of both halves but, despite some heavy pressure, could not break through.
Just one shot on target all game is the most damning statistic for the hosts this evening. They spent a lot of their time in the Sunderland half, particularly at the start of the second period when their pressure on the visitors was relentless. That solitary shot on target came seconds before the goal itself, which required Brown to finish it for the Eagles.
The warning bells may be beginning to ring at Selhurst Park now, where Palace have won just once this season. They are only out of the relegation zone due to goals scored now and, while there was no doubting the team's spirit and desire tonight, the lack of a cutting edge in the final third will worry Warnock. This was the type of match that they really should be winning.
Sunderland's performance
Tonight would have been all about the result for Gus Poyet given that his side had conceded 10 and scored none in their last two outings, but his players produced a performance full of character and fight to go with the three points. They were forced to weather a couple of storms at the beginning of either half, but they managed to do that and respond clinically.
The defence looked very shaky early on, and Vergini was fortunate not to concede a penalty in the opening seconds, but they slowly grew into the match and ended up taking everything that Palace could throw at them. At the other end, Fletcher got his second brace of the season, and Poyet will need him to maintain that sort of form if they are to stay away from trouble.
There is still the worry of yet another defensive error preventing them from getting a much-needed clean sheet, with Brown scoring his side's fourth own goal of the campaign. However, it ultimately didn't cost Sunderland this time around, so Poyet will be able to focus more on the positives aspects of a vastly improved display.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Steven Fletcher: Sunderland's strikers have been misfiring so far this season, only managing to score in one game, but Fletcher showed his importance this evening. His first goal was a very good header into the bottom corner, while he showed great composure to slot his second away and clinch the victory. He spent long periods out of the match and was isolated at times, but he came up with the goods when needed.
Biggest gaffe
Jason Puncheon deserves a mention here having been caught in possession by Liam Bridcutt in a dangerous position, leading to the visitors' third goal, but once again the biggest error came from a Sunderland player. Brown, who started the match on the bench following another mistake against Arsenal last time out, turned the ball into his own net with a clumsy attempt at a clearance seconds after Costel Pantilimon had made a world-class stop to deny Marouane Chamakh from close range. It was Sunderland's fourth own goal of the season already, but they ultimately got away with it this time.
Referee performance
This was certainly not Phil Dowd's finest performance. He bottled a big decision within the opening 25 seconds when Vergini hacked down Campbell inside the box, while the visitors should also have been awarded a penalty - or at the very least a free kick - shortly after the opening goal when Zaha was brought down right on the edge of the box. There were a number of other smaller decisions that he also got wrong throughout the match, but he was right to show Jedinak a second yellow card for a petulant kick out at Gomez.
What next?
Crystal Palace: Things don't get any easier for Palace as they face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday before hosting Liverpool eight days later.
Sunderland: Sunderland, meanwhile, will look to build on this victory when they entertain Everton at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Barney Corkhill
