Crystal Palace Vs Sunderland: Player Ratings

Keiren Westwood - 4

Beaten far too easily for the opener and was generally quite shaky. Probably should have done better on the penalty, too.

Ondrej Celustka - 6

One of the few players to come away with a little bit of credit. Attacked well and didn't really offend anyone defensively.

Jack Colback - 5

Gave his usual all but from a positional stand point he really struggled. Fine assist, however.

John O'Shea - 3

Shocking basic error for all-important penalty. That was a mistake a player of his experience should never be making. Few too many long balls, but it wasn't as if anyone from the midfield gave him much option.

Mobido Diakite - 4

Better than O'Shea on the day but not by much. Appreciate he is working his way back to match condition but he needs to sharpen up quickly.

Adam Johnson - 5

Probably the pick of the starters in attack. Certainly the one who looked most likely to do something, though that is saying quite literally nothing.

Seb Larsson - 5

Did okay, but when you are in a middle two against three in the Premier League, okay isn't quite enough. I don't think Larsson is the problem in midfield, but he most certainly isn't the solution either.

David Vaughan - 2

Did nothing except crawl around the pitch in slow motion before passing it sideways in super-slow motion. Atrocious selection by Di Canio.

Emmanuele Giaccherini - 5

Looked bright on the ball but didn't help Jack Colback enough at the back. Is it his fault, though? He shouldn't be playing behind a make-shift defender who needs his hand held really.

Ji Dong-won - 2

Didn't get hold of it enough and probably should have judged the flight of a fine first half Celustka cross better. Won't have done his confidence any good to be taken off at half time, but someone needed to make way for Fletcher.

Connor Wickham - 2

As poor and ineffective as Ji but for longer. Frankly though, it's probably not fair to judge any Sunderland striker with this central midfield behind them.

Steven Fletcher - 7

The one positive. Scored with a brilliant header and instantly showed the value of having a second striker capable of timing late runs into the box. Should work well with Altidore.

Charis Mavrias - 5

Tricky little player who looks more polished and ready for action than Moberg-Karlsson. Involved in the goal.

Man Of The Match: Steven Fletcher

Worrying state of affairs when a half-time substitute out-performs everyone else, but that is what happened here. The newly bearded Scotsman did what he spent all last season doing - carrying the team. It was all going so swimmingly as well until John O'Shea found the self-destruct button and threw all the hard work of getting back on terms away.

We'll have more on this game once the transfer window is out the way, so why not bookmark our Match Stream, HERE, for further reaction.