Crystal Palace 3-1 Sunderland: Eagles soar to first win

Crystal Palace were celebrating a first win of the season after the Eagles beat 10-man Sunderland 3-1 at Selhurst Park.

Stuart O’Keefe’s wonder goal sealed the victory in stoppage time after record signing Dwight Gayle’s 79th minute penalty put the Eagles back in front following Steven Fletcher’s equaliser.

It was a deserved three points for Palace who controlled much of the game and led their opponents after 10 minutes.

Danny Gabbidon was credited with the goal after the ball hit the Wales international last following a goal line scramble.

It was end to end stuff after that as Palace displayed quick, silky passing on the counter attack, with Jason Puncheon and Mile Jedinak going close, while Connor Wickham was wasteful up front for Sunderland, to the annoyance of manager Paolo Di Canio.

The Italian then replaced Ji-Dong Won with Steven Fletcher at half-time, with the prolific Scotland striker making his first appearance for the Black Cats in five months.

Palace continued to press after the restart as Jedinak was unlucky from distance again, while Gayle also put the Sunderland defence under pressure.

Fletcher then showed the Black Cats what they had been missing when he headed in Jack Colback’s cross in the 64th minute to level things against the run of play.

From then, both sides desperately searched for a winner and Palace goal scorer Gabbidon narrowly escaped handing Sunderland the lead when he lobbed his own keeper inside the 18-yard box, sending the ball just wide.

It was Palace, though, who earned a deserved three points when Gayle was clearly chopped down in the box by John O’Shea. The former Man United defender was given his marching orders and Gayle fired under goalkeeper Kieran Westwood before a superb O’Keefe goal sent home fans wild.

The victory gives Ian Holloway a boost before the international break, but leaves Di Canio's team winless and second from bottom.