Defoe strikes late as Sunderland claim vital win at Palace

Jermain Defoe: Celebrates Sunderland's vital winner

Jermain Defoe: Celebrates Sunderland's vital winner

Sunderland picked up their first away win of the season as Jermain Defoe struck late to earn a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in their Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.

The Black Cats, who had only managed a solitary point on the road this season before Monday’s game, claimed victory in the 80th minute when Defoe took advantage of a mix up between Scott Dann and Wayne Hennessey to slide the ball into an empty net.

Sunderland, for whom Younes Kaboul was excellent throughout, moved level on points with 18th-placed Bournemouth with the victory and just a point behind neighbours Newcastle.

Palace always looked the more threatening side, but as the game wore on, the visitors looked more and likely to make the breakthrough themselves and the winner arrived 10 minutes from time when Defoe picked Dann’s pocket.

The former England striker nipped in between Dann and the onrushing Hennessey to secure the Black Cats’ first away win of the league campaign.

Shortly after slotting home the winner, however, 33-year-old Defoe hobbled off with a suspected leg injury.

Patrick van Aanholt: Holds off Wilfried Zaha

Alan Pardew’s toothless Eagles were unable to build on their fine 2-1 win at Liverpool, slipping to their fourth home defeat in seven league games this term.

The hosts created precious few real scoring chances, the industry and application of Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie lacking a killer final ball.

That profligacy from the hosts allowed Sam Allardyce’s side to steal the points – their first league win on the road since the 2-0 triumph at Everton in May.

Sunderland had the only two tangible chances of a dire first half.

Allardyce’s wing-back formation twice allowed Patrick van Aanholt in behind the Palace defence, and the first time the left-sided defender ought to have scored.

Defoe blasted wide from all of 12 yards midway through a half punctuated with dross.

The Black Cats opened the second half the stronger but were thwarted from another fine chance when Yohan Cabaye cleared Sebastian Coates’ header off the line.

Yohan Cabaye: Battles with Lee Cattermole for the ball

Substitute Bakary Sako’s curling effort veered wide as Palace attempted to raise the tempo, before Damien Delaney pulled off a full-stretch interception to deny Sunderland an opportunity on the break.

Sako’s night lasted less than 20 minutes, the former Wolves midfielder trudging off to be replaced by Patrick Bamford as Pardew threw two up front.

The clash had cried out for the home team to alter their formation and double their strike force almost from the off, yet Pardew still waited until after the hour mark to make the switch.

While Zaha and Bolasie huffed and puffed in their effort to deliver a telling final ball, Sunderland continued to offer a reasonable counter-attacking threat.

Allardyce’s men again wasted a fine opening, however, when replacement Jeremain Lens tapped a tame effort straight at Wayne Hennessey.

Pardew pitched Marouane Chamakh into the front line in place of the anonymous Connor Wickham, but still the hosts struggled for fluency.

Crystal Palace v Sunderland match graphic and stats

Sunderland finally took advantage via the anticipated direct counter, Dann misreading Billy Jones’ hopeful ball to allow Defoe a clean run on goal.

The former Tottenham hitman ghosted in and round Hennessey in one touch, before passing into the empty net.

Hennessey had little choice but to leave his area in a bid to cover Dann’s misread, but only succeeded in allowing Defoe to tee up his tap-in.

Palace continued to press even through five minutes’ added time, but to no avail, with Cabaye curling a free-kick wide to close out a frustrating night for the hosts.