During this series, we take a look at classic matches from the last decade that will be sure to live long in the memory of Black Cats fans.
Today, we go back to February 2017 when David Moyes’ Sunderland travelled to Selhurst Park looking to stay in the hunt for Premier League survival.
In the opposing dugout was former Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce, whose Palace side sat just one place above Sunderland in 19th.
Team News
Bryan Oviedo slotted in at left-back to make his Sunderland debut, replacing Javier Manquillo in the starting XI.
Manchester United loanee Adnan Januzaj was restored to the starting line-up in place of Fabio Borini, and supported leading goal-scorer Jermain Defoe in attack.
For the Eagles, Patrick van Aanholt made his second start after swapping Wearside for South London during the January transfer window.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney (Townsend 45), Tomkins, van Aanholt, Zaha, McArthur (Remy 62), Cabaye (Ledley 27), Puncheon, Benteke
Subs not used: Speroni, Flamini, Sakho, Fryers
Sunderland: Mannone, Jones, Denayer, O’Shea (Lescott 57), Kone, Oviedo, N’Dong, Rodwell (Gibson 52), Larsson, Januzaj (Pienaar 78), Defoe
Subs not used: Borini, Khazri, Mika, Manquillo
Match Recap
Sunderland had the first chance of the contest inside 10 minutes when Jack Rodwell slid the ball into the path of Defoe, but Wayne Hennessey was out quickly to thwart the England striker.
But the Lads soon hit the front when Lamine Kone reacted quickest to a spill by the Welsh stopper and volleyed home.
Palace centre-back James Tomkins missed a guilt-edged chance shortly after when he somehow nodded wide from inside the six yard-box.
And he was soon made to pay for the miss as three goals in six minutes from Moyes’ side shell-shocked Selhurst Park.
First, Didier N’Dong robbed Joe Ledley in midfield and cannoned a 25-yard piledriver in off the post to grab his first Sunderland goal.
And then Jermain Defoe took centre stage in first-half stoppage time to take the game away from Palace.
The England man twice combined with Januzaj to fire home a pair of precise left-foot finishes and complete a scintillating 45 minutes.
Loic Remy squandered the Eagles’ best chance in the second period as he was denied by Vito Mannone, who was determined to keep his clean sheet intact.
Seb Larsson almost put the icing on the cake with a long-range effort that floated inches wide, as Sunderland headed back to Wearside with a vital three points.
Moment of the Match
Defoe’s double.
The England striker was at his clinical best to score two in two minutes and take his tally for the season to 14.
Coming into the game, Defoe was the only Sunderland player in the starting XI to score a Premier League goal that term, and the striker stepped up to the plate once again.