Jermain Defoe snatches late win for Sunderland... and is taken off with ankle injury

A calamitous defensive misunderstanding gifted Sunderland a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace courtesy of Jermain Defoe’s goal ten minutes from time.

There seemed to be little danger as Scott Dann shepherded a hopeful through-ball back towards his goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, but a complete breakdown in communication between the two gifted Defoe with an open goal in which to tuck home the winner for the Black Cats.

It was a bit of a smash and grab from the Wearsiders, who set up with five at the back with the intent of playing it long whenever possible – either looking for the strikers on the break or for the team’s bigger players from any set-piece on the park.

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The tactic hadn’t looked to be troubling Palace all that much, but neither did Sunderland look like conceding either in a match that seemed to have 0-0 written all of it from the start.

A drab first half saw neither side get much of a foothold in the game and even though it livened up a little after the break there was still a distinct lack of cutting edge from both sides.

But the one golden chance, when it came, fell to Defoe, who made Dann and Hennessey pay dearly for their indecision.

49’ – CHANCE – A Sunderland corner is flicked goalwards by Coates, but Cabaye is on the post and clears off the line. That's a chance. A legitimate chance. Thank the lord...

59’ – CHANCE – Sako has had enough of Palace's lack of cutting edge and takes it on himself, fizzing in a shot that flies marginally wide of the far post.

80’– GOAL! – A horrible mix-up between Hennessey and Dann sees both end up on the floor as Defoe slots into an empty net. 1-0 Sunderland. Calamitous.

81’ – SAVE – Pantilimon palms away a terrific shot from Cabaye that was arrowing towards the top corner.

What has happened to Crystal Palace? Alan Pardew’s side started the season in the sort of form that had Palace fans dreaming of a top-six finish and the manager legitimately linked to a future chance at the England job, but tonight’s performance was the latest in a poor run of displays from the Eagles. For a team with so many creative players, Palace lacked anything resembling a cutting edge and, for all of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha’s pretty touches, a remarkable lack of chances were created against a Sunderland defence who have been a liability for most of the season.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey 4; Ward 6, Dann 4, Delaney 7, Souare 6; McArthur 6, Cabaye 7; Zaha 7, Puncheon 5, Bolasie 7; Wickham 4. Subs: Sako 5, Bamford 6, Chamakh 6.

Sunderland: Pantilimon 7; Jones 5, Coates 6, Kaboul 5, O'Shea 6, van Aanholt 5; Cattermole 6, M'Vila 5, Larsson 5; Defoe 7, Fletcher 4. Subs: Watmore 7, Lens 5, Graham 6.

Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) – The Black Cats striker ran his heart out for the cause all night, putting in a terrific shift to try and give the visitors an outlet to aim for on the break. Chances were in short supply, but his pressure forced the key error in the game and his finish was calm and composed. Only an ankle injury late on threatened to spoil Defoe’s night.