Sunderland left the capital last night with all three points thanks to a Jermain Defoe goal 10 minutes from time, as Sam Allardyce’s men defeated Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Black Cats were on the back foot for most of the game and came under serious pressure from an attacking Crystal Palace team. However, unlike most of the season, Sunderland defended superbly and limited Palace to very few clear-cut opportunities.
£9-million and ex-Sunderland striker Connor Wickham led the line for Palace, but he couldn’t get a foothold in the game with the forward out muscled and out jumped all night by the superb Sebastian Coates and Younes Kaboul. Dangerous wingers Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha were always a threat to Sunderland’s changed back four and if Palace were to make a breakthrough it always looked like it would come from the two pacey wide men.
Despite Palace dominating possession in the first-half, Sunderland had their opportunities to take the lead. Defoe dragged a shot wide, whilst Patrick Van Aanholt, being used in a left-wing role, missed two half chances.
The second half began much like the first, with Palace in control and pressing, whilst Sunderland continued to defend valiantly. It was Sunderland who came the closest to taking the lead too, with Sebastian Coates having a header cleared off the line from Yohan Cabaye following a Seb Larsson corner.
Cabaye had a shot himself at the other end which forced a smart save from Costel Pantilimon, who was in fine form all evening. It was Sunderland who eventually took the lead though through Jermain Defoe, who was full of energy all night. The former Tottenham striker chased down a through ball from Billy Jones, causing a mix-up in the Palace defence between Scott Dann and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, allowing Defoe to poke the ball into an empty net with 10 minutes to play.
The Wearsiders were under a serious amount of pressure following the goal, with Cabaye going close again only for Pantilimon to prevent an equaliser. The Black Cats, and in particular, Coates and Kaboul, defended superbly with corner after corner and cross after cross being fired into the Sunderland penalty area.
It was the Black Cats who came away with all three points and Sam Allardyce will be hoping that Sunderland can use this win as a platform to build a run of successful results, with Stoke City next up at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
