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- Steven Fletcher scores twice for Sunderland.
- Costel Pantilimon and Anthony Reveilerre make Premier League debuts.
- Mile Jedinak sent off for Crystal Palace.
- Sunderland win league game at Selhurst Park for first time since 1995.
Steven Fletcher netted a brace as Sunderland beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.
The Scotsman headed home to give the Black Cats the lead in the 31st minute, but Crystal Palace drew level early in the second half when Wes Brown put through his own net from close range.
The visitors regained the lead late on with a well taken drive from Jordi Gomez from just outside the box, before Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Steven Fletcher wrapped up the points for Sunderland deep into stoppage time with a well taken finish after some good work from Liam Bridcutt.
Sunderland leave Selhurst Park with a deserved three points after a dogged performance, but the win didn't come without an element of good fortune.
Crystal Palace were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the opening minute of the game. Former Sunderland forward Frazier Campbell found himself one-on-one with Costel Pantilimon, before Santiago Vergini sent him to the ground with what was a rather clumsy challenge.
Referee Phil Dowd failed to see enough in the tackle from Vergini to award a penalty, and Sunderland escaped a nightmare start.
Palace had the best of the early pressure, but it was the Black Cats that opened the scoring when a cross from Patrick Van Aanholt was smartly headed home by Steven Fletcher.
Shortly afterwards the Sunderland left-back was stretchered off with a suspected dislocated shoulder following a risky tackle on Wilfried Zaha inside the box that again, on another day, could have resulted in a spot-kick for Crystal Palace.
Gus Poyet's side made it to half-time with the lead, but after heavy pressure from Palace early in the second half, the home side eventually managed to level the game.
A quickly taken corner caught Sunderland off-guard and after Costel Pantilimon made what could well be the save of the season so far from Marouane Chamakh, Wes Brown diverted the rebound from Frazier Campbell into the back of his own net.
The Black Cats reacted well and in the 79th minute they were rewarded. Will Buckley found Jordi Gomez on the edge of the box in acres of space, and the Spaniard kept a cool head to fire his shot low into the bottom corner.
Mile Jedinak received a second yellow card of the game shortly after the Eagles fell behind for the second time, and was sent off - Jedinak will now miss Crystal Palace's trip to Old Trafford next weekend.
With time running out Neil Warnock threw everything he could at Sunderland in the hunt for an equaliser, but some industrious work from substitute Liam Bridcutt caught Palace outnumbered at the back, and the 25-year-old put it on a plate for Steven Fletcher to finish off the home side.
Sunderland climb up to 15th place in the table two points clear of the relegation zone, and they record their first league win on a Monday night since 2002.