Summary

  • Fletcher scores header and with late finish

  • Brown scores sixth PL own goal

  • Gomez scores with low diagonal strike

  • Van Aanholt off with injured shoulder

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    "It's like Crystal Palace play better when they are the underdog. There is no real intensity to their play. I expected better and I've seen better from them."

  2. HALF-TIME

    Job done as far as Sunderland are concerned so far. They held off a confident Crystal Palace side in the early stages before Steven Fletcher gave the away side the lead with a neat header. Palace, though, will perhaps feel aggrieved that a couple of penalty shouts did not go their way.

    Scrappy, but pretty entertaining.

  3. Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    "It won't hurt Sunderland to play in a game which is punctured by mistakes and free-kicks. They just need a win. I'm not disappointed with Sunderland. I do think they are short of quality but they have come here with a gameplan to make it scrappy. It's Palace who have been poor."

  4. CLOSE!

    Santiago Vergini connects sweetly with a cross to direct a shot at goal, but Julian Speroni is there to parry away. Sunderland are finishing this half on top, much to the dismay of a glum-looking Neil Warnock in the Palace dugout.

  5. Text us on 81111

    Ali, Edinburgh: How they laughed when I replaced the injured David Silva with Stephen Fletcher in my Fantasy Football team. Oh ye of little faith!

  6. Four minutes of time added on is shown on the fourth official's board after the earlier Patrick van Aanholt injury. Can Crystal Palace snatch an equaliser before the break?

  7. Join the debate at #bbcfootball

    Matt Daloisio: Right now, the three promoted clubs are bottom. Wouldn't be surprised if all were relegated. Didn't spend well enough over summer.

  8. Crystal Palace look a little rattled after falling behind and after a confident opening they are now misplacing passes and playing poor balls into the box that are easing pickings for Sunderland who, by the way, will climb to 15th with a win. Leicester, as it stands, drop into the relegation zone.

  9. Commentator Guy Mowbray on BBC Radio 5 live

    Steven Fletcher heads in the first goal of the gameReuters

    "Steven Fletcher really strained his neck muscles to get power into his header that put Sunderland in front."

  10. Some fancy footwork from Steven Fletcher as he pirouettes inside the area before letting fly with a booming shot that Palace keeper Julian Speroni does well to punch away. The confidence is clearly flowing in the Sunderland players after the opener.

  11. Join the debate at #bbcfootball

    Duncan, Richmond: From a distance the two sets of kits that the teams are sporting hint at Barcelona and Real Madrid, no one need be fooled however...El Classico this certainly is not!

    Abe from Edinburgh: Although they're losing currently, Palace looks like a ferocious atmosphere to play your football in, not looking forward to my team Liverpool's next away game!

  12. Patrick van Aanholt is stretchered offGetty Images

    A bad couple of days for nasty shoulder injuries. Manchester United's Marcos Rojo yesterday and Patrick van Aanholt today. Sunderland already have quite a lengthy injury list, they could do without a long lay-off for van Aanholt.

  13. SUBSTITUTION

    Patrick van Aanholt receives treatment on his shoulderGetty Images

    Patrick van Aanholt tries to get up after that challenge but is straight back down on the grass, seemingly in pain. He seems to have injured his shoulder and he can't continue and is taken off on a stretcher. Wes Brown is on in his place.

  14. Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    "I don't know what kind of challenge that was from Patrick van Aanholt. It's a definite foul, he gets nothing of the ball."

  15. PENALTY APPEAL

    Neil Warnock protestsGetty Images

    Heart-in-mouth moment for Sunderland straight after the opener as Patrick van Aanholt tangles with Wilfried Zaha inside the Black Cats area but nothing given. Neil Warnock must be fuming.

  16. Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    "It's a wonderful finish and great play from Patrick van Aanholt, but how is he not off-side when he picks up the ball? Why oh why did Brede Hangeland drop off when all he had to do was step up?"

  17. GOAL

    Steven Fletcher heads to open the scoringGetty Images
    Steven Fletcher celebratesGetty Images

    It is a first real foray forward for Sunderland and it results in a goal! Connor Wickham picks out Patrick van Aanholt in loads of space just on the right side of the Palace area, no offside flag and van Aanholt lofts the ball towards the penalty spot, where Steven Fletcher directs a header into the back of the net.

  18. Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    "Sunderland have doubled up on Yannick Bolasie. Every time he has got the ball, he's had to stop and pass the ball instead of taking it on. The minute he gets some space, he wastes his shot."

  19. Yannick Bolasie competes for the ball with Sunderland's Will BuckleyAP

    Yannick Bolasie has another go, and it is better this time as he drops a shoulder and gets past one Sunderland player but sweeps a shot wide from the edge of the box.

  20. Scottish football latest

    Approaching half-time at Dingwall and no goals to report in the game between Ross County and Aberdeen at Dingwall. You can follow the action on our Scottish live text commentary.