Finally,
Sunderland have had a happy Monday. After 12 years and 21 games, they
won a match on a Monday, clinching a vital win against Crystal Palace.
But while Gus Poyet enjoyed his start to the week, the same can’t be said of Neil Warnock.
The
Palace boss left incensed after referee Phil Dowd failed to award his
side what looked a clear penalty inside the opening 25 seconds.
VIDEO Scroll down to get all the facts and figures as Sportsmail brings you the Big Match Stats as Sunderland beat Crystal Palace
Steven Fletcher ensures the three points are going back to the North East with Sunderland by adding a third goal in injury time
Jordi Gomez
(left) celebrates after scoring what proved to be the winner for
Sunderland before Fletcher (far right) added a third
Gomez lets fly with his left foot with a little over 10 minutes remaining to earn Sunderland all three points
Gomez watches as the ball nestles in the corner of the net to put Sunderland back in front in their relegation battle
Warnock
is already in hot water with the FA over comments made about referee
Craig Pawson following the defeat by Chelsea last month.
And he may find himself in further trouble after another rant after last night’s loss.
‘I
think everyone knows it was a penalty, I think the only chance we’ve
got of getting a penalty at the moment is if a player picks up the ball
and throws it at the referee,’ said the Palace boss.
‘We
are at Manchester United next, I don’t think we’ll get many decisions
there. Major decisions change games and major decisions haven’t gone for
us.’
There’s no doubt about it, Sunderland got away with one, and Poyet knew it too.
‘It
was time for us to get a little bit of luck,’ said the Sunderland boss.
‘We’ve not had much so far this way. What’s important is that we take
advantage of that luck and win the game.
‘It means a lot — it means more than anyone can think. It’s been a difficult couple of weeks.’
Spectators were still finding their seats as the night’s main talking point unfolded.
There
looked to be no danger as Marouane Chamakh flicked on Scott Dann’s
hoist forward, but as Sunderland hesitated in dealing with the second
ball, Fraizer Campbell burst past John O’Shea into the box.
Santiago Vergini lunged but failed to make any contact with the ball before taking Campbell’s legs away from him.
Selhurst
Park rose to its feet fully expecting a penalty, but Dowd waved
Palace’s appeals away. Warnock was less than impressed. You can only
wonder how he felt when he saw the replays. It was as clear a penalty as
you’ll see this season.
In
the aftermath, the Palace boss approached fourth official Mike Jones.
Not long after, Dowd made his way over to the Palace bench for a word
with Warnock.
Having
conceded 10 goals in their last two games, Poyet would have been
content to see his side on level terms after 30 minutes.He’d have been
ecstatic three minutes later as Sunderland took the lead.
Fraizer Campbell goes down in the box under a challenge by Santiago Vergini but the home side's penalty appeals were turned down
Palace manager Neil Warnock was unhappy with the decision not to award a penalty and made his feelings known to Phil Dowd
Crystal Palace's Fraser Campbell back
heels the ball into the danger area which lead to Wes Brown turning the
ball into his own net
Brown watches as he inadvertently directs the ball past his own keeper to level the score at Selhurst Park
Costel Pantilimonin in the Sunderland goal can do nothing as the ball is sent past him by his team-mate Brown
Brown watches as the ball nestles in the back of the net to draw Crystal Palace level against Sunderland
Pantilimon and Brown hold an inquest over the own goal that brought Crystal Palace level against their relegation rivals
There
was a hint of offside as Patrick van Aanholt collected the ball down the
left — but as Palace appealed for a free-kick the Dutchman found Steven
Fletcher, who leaped highest to plant a header past Julian Speroni.
Palace
had a second penalty appeal dismissed by Dowd two minutes after
Fletcher’s goal when Van Aanholt collided with Wilfried Zaha down the
right.
Again,
the Sunderland player made little or no contact with the ball. If
Warnock was angry at his side’s first failed penalty shout, he was
apoplectic with this one.
But
in Dowd’s defence, replays showed that the tangle occurred just outside
the box. The incident was Van Aanholt’s final contribution, as he was
carried off after lengthy treatment following the collision with Zaha.
Palace’s
predicament could easily have worsened before the break as the Black
Cats were denied three times by Speroni; Fletcher, Vergini and Wickham
all denied by the Argentine.
Steven Fletcher heads home the opening goal for Sunderland at Crystal Palace in the first half at Selhurst Park
Scotland striker Fletcher peels away after his stunning header put the Black Cats in front against Neil Warnock's side
Fletcher takes the plaudits from the crowd as he ensured Sunderland went into the break with a narrow lead in London
Fletcher is joined by his Sunderland team-mates as they celebrate the opening goal in front of their travelling support
Ten
minutes into the second half, Palace grabbed a deserved equaliser. Zaha
was at the centre of it, tormenting Sebastian Larsson before standing
up an inviting cross to Campbell at the far post.
The
former Sunderland striker’s powerful header was brilliantly saved by
Costel Pantilimon, but the keeper was helpless as Wes Brown diverted
Campbell’s back-heel from the rebound into his own net from two yards.
But having dragged themselves back into the clash, Palace slumped to defeat after a miserable final 10 minutes.
Jordi
Gomez smashed home a 20-yard drive in the 79th minute to send the
travelling support into delirium, Mile Jedinak heaped further misery on
the home side as he was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on
Gomez before Fletcher, put clear by Liam Bridcutt, added a third.
Sunderland's Patrick van Aanholt is taken off on a stretcher and was replaced by Wes Brown for the visitors
Crystal Palace fans protest at the perceived greed of the Premier League during their Monday night clash with Sunderland
Palace fans also protested about a potential 38th game being played abroad as they watched their side take on Sunderland
Stewards closed in quickly on those who unfurled the banner, the group is known as the Holmesdale Fanatics
Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Gomez late in the match
Jedinak is shown his marching orders to compound Palace's misery on a night they were well beaten by Sunderland
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