Jermain Defoe had a really quiet first 20 minutes but he's dropping into space wonderfully now and linking things nicely.

His work sees DeAndre Yedlin with it down the right and Martin Kelly makes a mess of his clearance, spooning it in the air, but Palace survive.

Wahbi Khazri sends in an outswinger and Younes Kaboul puts his head to it, but it's over.

Sunderland work it well through Wahbi Khazri and Jermain Defoe as it finds its way out wide to Dame N'Doye, whose cross deflects behind.

As it stands Sunderland fans (say it quietly) you are out of the relegation zone. But shhhh, I don't want to jinx you.

Here we go again. A big 45 minutes for these teams... Palace take the kick-off.

The appetite of Wahbi Khazri has impressed me tonight. The Sunderland man is supposedly playing wide left - but this touchmap shows that positions are an abstract concept to the Tunisian.

Image source, Opta

Here's how that Sunderland goal was scored - although the arrow on that shot from Dame N'Doye should have a little skewiff in it from where it clipped Scott Dann.

There was a great tackle by DeAndre Yedlin (24) in the middle of the park to win the ball and start the move through Yann M'Vila (21) and then Jermain Defoe (18).

Image source, .

And with that, an entertaining first half comes to an end.

Scott Dann's night gets marginally worse as he's booked for fouling Patrick van Aanholt.

The free-kick from Wahbi Khazri comes off a Sunderland head and goes over.

Younes Kaboul and Connor Wickham chase a ball towards the Sunderland goal-line. It looks like it comes off Kaboul, but no corner given.

I think we've gone two minutes without a chance...

But Jack Rodwell fouls Wilfried Zaha for a Palace free-kick - it comes to nothing.

Jermain Defoe again finding the target, making space with a textbook turn, but Wayne Hennessey is there again.

And now Jermain Defoe, who teed up Dame N'Doye for that goal, has an effort from similar distance but finds only a Wayne Hennessey-shaped midriff.

Oh a great chance for Jermain Defoe, who fails to make decent contact with Yann M'Vila's cut-back.

Brief response by Sunderland as Dame N'Doye hits one from 20 yards straight at Wayne Hennessey.

Image source, Reuters

Connor Wickham comes over the left side to take a long throw for Palace. How many strikers do you see on throw-in duties? It's headed behind for a corner...

And from that we get the best chance of the game, as Scott Dann meets Yohan Cabaye's corner with a header six yards out and Vitor Mannone makes a tremendous fingertip save to push it over.

Sunderland skipper John O'Shea has to come off - he's holding his lower left leg.

Younes Kaboul is on, ending a spell on the sidelines after an ankle injury.

And more frustration as Wahbi Khazri has acres of space between the Palace midfield and defence, but his throughball for Jermain Defoe is hasty and rushed.

The home side come again though and Yann M'Vila lays in Dame N'Doye down the right - the shot is up. up and over.

Sunderland fans are getting a bit worried about this flurry of Palace chances.

There's a few groans as the home side mess about with it at the back.