Fabio Borini's late goal rescued Sunderland a vital 2-2 draw in their battle to avoid relegation against an out-of-form Crystal Palace side.
A second-half double from former Black Cats striker Connor Wickham put the visitors well in control, but Borini added to Dame N'Doye's earlier strike to level the scores.
Sunderland climb out of the relegation zone as a result of the precious point picked up, while Palace are still seeking their first league win this calendar year.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Sunderland and Crystal Palace at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats have a big chance to climb out of the drop zone this evening, with fellow their relegation contenders facing tough tests elsewhere during a busy midweek schedule in the English top flight.
Palace head into this clash in the North East on the back of a poor run of form, meanwhile, having picked up just one point from a possible 24 to slip from fifth down to 14th place. Make no mistake about it - defeat for the Eagles in this one and all of a sudden they are involved in a relegation battle, rather than a hopeful showdown for a top-five spot as appeared likely just a couple of months back.
Plenty to get through between now and kickoff in a little under an hour's time, so let us get straight into things by checking out some team news from the Stadium of Light...
TEAM NEWS!
SUNDERLAND XI: Mannone, Yedlin, O'Shea, Kone, Van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, M'Vila, Rodwell, N'Doye, Khazri, Defoe
CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Cabaye, Jedinak, Zaha, Mutch, Bolasie, Wickham
Starting with the home team, then, and Sam Allardyce has made just the one change to his side on the back of Saturday's narrow defeat against former side West Ham United. Jack Rodwell comes in for this big showdown in the North East, replacing Lee Catermole in central midfield. Jermaine Defoe, the match winner in the reverse fixture between these two sides, starts up top.
It marks a first start for Rodwell this calendar year, with his last coming here against Liverpool in December. The England international has a huge part to play this evening, with Cattermole dropping down to the bench. Allardyce had no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match, but Jeremain Lens and Duncan Watmore remain sidelined through hernia and ankle problems respectively.
The big news as far as the visitors are concerned is the return of Yannick Bolasie to the starting lineup. The winger, a scorer of a hat-trick in this fixture last season, makes his first start for the Eagles this calendar year following an injury layoff. It is no coincidence that the South London outfit's dire run of form has coincided with his absence, but Alan Pardew will now be hoping that the attacking spark returns.
It is not a happy St David's Day for Welshman Joe Ledley, meanwhile, as he drops out of the side on the back of the 3-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend. Mile Jedinak takes his place in central midfield, while Emmanuel Adebayor is the man to make way for the returning Bolasie. Just the two changes made by Pardew, then, who has called for a return to basics from his side tonight.
BENCH WATCH!
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Pickford, Jones, Kaboul, Cattermole, Toivonen, Larsson, Borini
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: McCarthy, Mariappa, Ledley, Lee, Sako, Gayle, Adebayor
Sebastian Larsson and Younes Kaboul are both among the Black Cats' subs this evening, with neither player yet to feature since returning from injury. Fabio Borini provides a further attacking option for Allardyce should he be required, while Catermole is also among the back-up choices after being omitted from the starting lineup. Bakary Sako is on the visitors' bench, meanwhile, but Jason Puncheon and James McArthur are still out.
Yannick Bolasie is back among the starters for Crystal Palace this evening for the first time since December. The winger has already shown what the Eagles have been missing when being introduced as a sub in the club's last couple of outings, but Alan Pardew will be delighted to have him from the off tonight as one of two changes from last time out.
So a big evening ahead for Sunderland, as they aim to claw themselves out of the drop zone. It feels like an eternity since they were last clear of the danger zone, yet tonight represents a glorious opportunity for the Black Cats to overhaul both Norwich City and rivals Newcastle United, while at the same time dragging Palace into the relegation mire. Defeat, on the other hand, and things really will look bleak for the North East outfit.
In truth, the results have improved of late as a well-earned draw at Liverpool was followed up by an impressive win over Manchester United here. Saturday's setback at West Ham did little to damage Sunderland's hopes of survival, either, as every other side in the bottom seven also lost - including a Palace side seemingly in disarray. One point is currently the difference between the Black Cats and survival, with five teams currently battling to avoid the final two relegation spots.
Just six wins all season is very worrying, though, making it clear to see just why supporters are so frustrated at this moment in time. Season upon season the club finds itself battling relegation, rather than making waves in the top half, with the scrap to survive often going down to the final matches. Allardyce himself has acknowledged that at least four points are needed from games against Palace and Southampton this week, or else the battle may become to much for even perennial battlers Sunderland to survive.
The Black Cats are seeking their first back-to-back home wins of the campaign this evening, incidentally, having seen off Man United in their last outing here. Their home form has been decent enough of late; seven points from the last 12 on offer providing a real platform to push on ahead of games away from home against Southampton and arch-rivals Newcastle in a few weeks' time. Already that local derby looks massive, with relegation something currently dooming both of these proud clubs.
Another good omen for Sunderland heading into this match is their record against sides around them this term. Four of their six victories have come against bottom-seven teams - a category Palace now find themselves in - but with 11 games left to play you get the sense that points will also have to be picked up elsewhere. First thing's first, however - seeing off Palace tonight and potentially climbing up to 17th. That really would be dreamland at this stage.
DID YOU KNOW? Sunderland have conceded a league-high tally of nine goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season. Opponents Palace have scored more than half of their goals (15) thus far from set-pieces, meanwhile, so any early free kicks and corners early on at the Stadium of Light and nerves really will be jangling.
Much has been made of Palace's recent form, but it is not surprising in truth due to the sheer loss of momentum. Leading up to Christmas, talk was rife of the Eagles potentially gatecrashing the top five and earning a Europa League berth thanks to some impressive displays during Pardew's year-long tenure. Fast forward just a couple of months, though, and all of a sudden there is now a real chance of relegation come May.
Eight points remains the gap between Palace and the bottom three, which is plenty of room to breath at this stage. Defeat tonight and that deficit is already cut, however, and with just one point taken from the last 24 on offer, you would not bet your life savings on the Eagles avoiding the drop. Supporters will no doubt still be hoping to end the campaign on a high, however, with an FA Cup quarter-final against Reading to look forward to as well as a top-half finish should they get their act together.
Palace's winless streak of 10 games, stretching back to December 19, is the longest such run in the division. Pardew's charges were fifth prior to this downturn in fortunes, whereas now they sit in 14th place. Just up the road from here at St James' Park, Newcastle fans will be chucking in the knowledge that they were so happy to see the back of the Englishman due to these long-running streaks of form - albeit good or bad. There is no denying that the Londoners must make amends sooner rather than later.
One of the big problems has come at the back, where they have failed to keep a clean sheet in all eight of their league games in 2016. Nineteen goals have been shipped in total during that spell, so shoring up at the back will be a priority. West Brom cruised into a three-goal lead just a few days ago, which led to Pardew admitting after the game that he was "shocked" by what he had witnessed.
Palace face Liverpool and Leicester City in their next two league outings, both of which look tough on paper, so points tonight are a must if they are to push themselves back up the table. The FA Cup offers the best hope of any sort of success this season, of course, and the Eagles must be commended for the way they battled past Tottenham Hotspur recently to advance through. It counted for little at The Hawthorns, though, suggesting that motivation in the league may be an issue.
After talk of a top-five finish at Christmas time, Palace have since slipped nine places down to 14th in the Premier League table. Whichever way you look at it, the Eagles' form over the past couple of months really has been shocking. Defeat at the Stadium of Light this evening and they will be firmly in a relegation fight alongside their opponents.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Sunderland have won two of the last three meetings between these two sides, including a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in November. That was a game that the Eagles dominated for large parts, but the Englishman popped up in the final 10 minutes to rescue three vital points for his side - one of just six wins all term.
It is worth mentioning that Sunderland have not actually pulled off a league double against Palace since back in 1995-96, however, when the two teams were competing in the second tier. The Eagles are also unbeaten in three visits to the Stadium of Light, with last season's fixture ending in a 4-1 triumph - Bolasie the hero on that occasion with an impressive hat-trick.
It is fair to see that Pardew hardly boasts the finest record against opposite number Allardyce, either, as Big Sam has lost on just two occasions in 11 meetings between the pair. Both have been speaking warmly of each other in the build-up to this game, claiming that the Premier League needs more Englishman managers. At this rate, one or both of these high-calibre bosses could find themselves in the Championship come next season.
With kickoff at the Stadium of Light now exactly 10 minutes away, let us check out the pre-match thoughts from both camps in a little more detail.
Sam Allardyce: "We have got 11 games left and we have got to have our best run of the season. We have got to pick up five victories if we can, and that's 38 points - then hope that 38 points is going to be enough again this year."
Alan Pardew: "Are we in a relegation fight? Yes, of course we are. We keep losing. There is no talk of Europe at this club. We are focused now on what Crystal Palace need to deliver over the next 10 games. We've got a fantastic opportunity in the FA Cup but the league form hasn't been good enough and we need to put it right, straight away."
No shying away from the ordeal Allardyce has on his hands - and he knows it! Five victories is the target set by Big Sam, who has seen his side - under both his leadership and predecessor Dick Advocaat - pick up just six wins all season. As mentioned a little earlier, though, the Black Cats have a decent recent record here thanks to seven points being collected from the last 12 on offer. Three more tonight and 17th place could be theirs for the taking.
Pardew simply looking to lower expectations, on the other hand, which is hardly surprising when looking at the form books. There is still a third of the season left to play, mind, including an upcoming - and indeed winnable - FA Cup quarter-final, so the Eagles desperately need to find some momentum to ensure that this campaign does not badly peter away following so much early promise.
PREDICTION! Right, prediction time! A tough game to call, this, and I am going to sit on the fence a little and back a draw. Goals would be nice, and with Sunderland one of the more prolific sides among the relegation-threatened clubs, I will go with an entertaining 2-2 stalemate.
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff just a minute or so away!
KICKOFF! M'Vila and Defoe get proceedings underway for Sunderland at a cold Stadium of Light. Four points from two games the target for Allardyce, so victory a must here tonight ahead of the weekend trip to Southampton.
Yedlin looking a tad shaky in the early stages, not helped by a foul throw just 20 seconds into the game. The American needs to be on top of his game up against Bolasie this evening, but he does well to get forward only for Kelly to defend the attacking move.
Sunderland have put some good moves together, the latest of which comes to an end when Van Aanholt smashes a shot-cross wide of goal. Hennessey a little worried by the spin on the ball, but it ended a good yard wide of the target in the end.
Not the most open of starts to the contest, in truth, but it is Sunderland who have looked just about the more lively in attack so far. Van Aanholt and Yedlin have got up the flanks well early doors to provide some additional width.
Mutch and Rodwell look as though they are going to have a real battle in midfield this evening. This latest move involved Zaha, though, who blasted well over the bar when given just a yard of space on the edge of the box.
SHOT! Palace just beginning to up the tempo a little now, as Zaha gets away another shot. This latest attempt is on goal, forcing Manone into a routine enough stop to collect the ball.
SAVE! Sunderland get away their first real shot of the contest, and it is via the boot of Rodwell 25 yards out. The midfielder had every right to take it on but, while it had plenty of power behind it, the effort lacked any real precision and Hennessey collected down the middle.
A decent opening for the visitors, as Wickham knocks down Cabaye's floated in free kick towards Dann at the back post. The angle was against the centre-back, however, and Sunderland just about dealt with the loose ball which came back into a central position.
Bolasie takes out Yedlin with a mistimed challenge, highlighting that he is still lacking game time, but he gets away with just a talking to from the referee. A good feel to the contest all of a sudden, as both teams take it in turns to burst forward.
YELLOW CARD! Jack Rodwell is booked for a challenge on Wilfried Zaha after the winger used his pace to burst away from the Sunderland midfielder. Home fans unhappy with that following Bolasie's earlier challenge.
A well balanced game so far, then, with nearly of quarter of the contest played. Both teams have had a tame attempt on goal apiece, but neither keeper has truly been tested as of yet. A cagey match but one which looks like it has a goal or two in it.
Bolasie does brilliantly to take down a ball over the top, before laying it off to Mutch on the overlap. It was a tight angle, which told in the end as the English midfielder could only blast into the side-netting.
Mutch goes down in the box under a challenge from Yedlin, but there was little in it and Anthony Taylor was quick to wave play on. Plenty of battles taking place across the field, meanwhile, including that between Rodwell and Jedinak.
Khazri picks up the ball in a good position 25 yards from goal, but frustratingly plays a ball through for Defoe that was well overhit. O'Shea is limping around a little at the moment up the other end of the field, and may be forced to come off prior to the break.
Yet again the space opens up for Sunderland, as M'Vila plays in N'Doye. Again, it was a tight angle against the forward, and he disappointingly side-footed it a good yard over the bar. Still awaiting his first goal for the club.
SUNDERLAND SUB! An early blow for the hosts as O'Shea limps down the tunnel. Kaboul, himself back after an injury layoff, comes on and takes over the captaincy duties.
SAVE! Superb stop from Manone to deny Scott Dann from close range. A corner from the right picked out the centre-back right on the penalty spot, but his header was somehow tipped over right under the bar. Closest we have come to a goal so far!
GOAL! SUNDERLAND 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE (DAME N'DOYE)
A few minutes after being denied by a wonderful Manone stop, Palace fall behind to a big deflection. N'Doye took on the shot from range, which took a telling deflection off Dann on its way through to leave Hennessey wrong-footed between the sticks. Huge goal for the Black Cats!
SHOT! Defoe looking for a quick-fire second for the hosts, only for his shot to end straight at Hennessey. Moments later the Englishman once more picks out the Palace keeper on the end of Yedlin's pullback.
Not a great deal of action over the past few minutes, with the contest now more balanced. Sunderland were on top after taking the lead, yet with a few minutes to go before the interval the half appears to be petering out somewhat.
Norwich are losing elsewhere this evening, meanwhile, so things are certainly looking up for Sunderland at the moment. They had all the momentum a few minutes ago after taking the lead, but this half is now approaching its conclusion.
N'Doye powers above his man at a corner but can only head wide of the target. Palace need far more from their wide men, as Bolasie and Zaha have faded badly after a fairly decent start to the match.
YELLOW CARD! Scott Dann receives the second booking of the opening 45 minutes for his challenge on Van Aanholt. Khazri's free kick was dangerous but could not test Hennessey with the final act of the half.
HALF TIME: SUNDERLAND 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
Sunderland lead 1-0 at the break thanks to a heavily deflected Dame N'Doye strike. Both teams have had the odd half chance, but it is the Black Cats who have just about edged things and rightly take a slim advantage into the break.
The half centred around two big moments separated by just a few minutes. First, Scott Dann saw his headed attempt brilliantly kept out by Vito Mannone from a corner kick. Shortly after, N'Doye struck up the other end with a shot that would have been kept out by Hennessey if not for a deflection off Dann on its way through.
Defoe had a couple more openings soon after seeing his side make a breakthrough, but neither effort had enough it it to truly trouble Hennessey. Rodwell also tried his luck earlier in the half from 25 yards out, again failing to force the Palace stopper into anything out of the ordinary, while Zaha saw an attempt of his own kept out up the other end 11 minutes in.
It has been a contest full of battles across the pitch, which largely explains the two first-half bookings. Jack Rodwell and Scott Dann must both remain careful in the second period, as they were shown a yellow by Anthony Taylor in the opening 45 minutes. The official was fairly busy, having also quickly waved away Mutch's penalty appeals when brought charging into Yedlin.
Sunderland have already been forced into one change prior to the break - Kaboul coming on for the injured O'Shea to take over captaincy duties.
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Pickford, Jones, Cattermole, Toivonen, Larsson, Borini
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: McCarthy, Mariappa, Ledley, Lee, Sako, Gayle, Adebayor
RESTART! We are back underway at the Stadium of Light, with no changes of any note made at the break. Wickham has just headed over a half-decent chance just 20 seconds into the half.
So a positive start to the half for Palace, then, but Sunderland now up the other end and winning a corner. Khazri crosses the initial effort which Dann heads behind, before Kaboul nodded wide from the next delivery.
The onus certainly on Palace to find a leveller in this game, but Sunderland will not feel comfortable with just a one-goal lead. The substitutions made around the hour mark could make a huge difference to both sides.
Kelly blocks M'Vila's attempts which allows Palace to clear their lines. The Eagles looking a little more livelier now, with Yedlin again playing a key role in instigating some moves down his flank.
Defoe almost works just a yard of space inside the box thanks to some silky footwork, but Palace just about win back the ball. Much better from Bolasie up the other end, meanwhile, as he breaks forward and swings in a dangerous cross which is cleared behind.
Home supporters unhappy with the way their side are continuously backing off now. Far too early to sit on this one-goal lead, but Sunderland do get forward well when allowed and Defoe has just seen a shot blocked on the edge of the box.
Van Aanholt the latest to have a shot from range blocked before it can reach the target, while the rebound was blasted high and wide by Rodwell. Pardew now screaming for his players to press high up the field. Delicately poised heading into the final 30 minutes or so.
Cabaye with another chance to swing in a set-piece after M'Vila clattered into Zaha, but Bolasie headed well over the bar. No sign of a 12-minute treble from the winger this evening, like witnessed here in this fixture last season.
GOAL! SUNDERLAND 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (CONNOR WICKHAM)
Wouldn't you just know it! Connor Wickham comes back to haunt his former club with his third goal in two outings. It was a sweetly struck shot, too, which perhaps took just a little knick on its way through. Bolasie picked out the forward, who flashed a shot into the far corner via the post.
SUNDERLAND SUB! Cattermole comes on for Kirchhoff to provide some protection in midfield. Allardyce perhaps wary about this game slipping away from his side after that Palace leveller.
It has been a superb battle so far between two teams determined to win this game. Plenty for Messrs Pardew and Allardyce to think about as we head into the final quarter of this contest.
GOAL! SUNDERLAND 1-2 CRYSTAL PALACE (CONNOR WICKHAM)
Wickham pops up again to bag his second of the game - and dents former club Sunderland's survival hopes in the prospect. It was another real thumper from the striker, this time at the end of a Mutch corner which was not defended and ended with Wickham smashing the ball home from a few yards out.
So out of nowhere Palace all of a sudden have a one-goal lead. It just goes to show what this side are capable of when they move out of first gear - something they have really struggled to do over the past couple of months. Now we get to see the character of this Sunderland side.
CRYSTAL PALACE SUB! Cabaye makes way for Ledley, as Pardew opts for a pair of fresh legs in midfield. Wickham denied just a few moments beforehand as Manone got to the ball before him inside the box.
Wickham really up for this game now after his quick-fire double. The forward is holding up the ball well and it is his side who are looking in control at the moment. Sunderland just looking void of ideas when they get the ball forward.
CRYSTAL PALACE SUB! The returning Sako is introduced in place of Bolasie. A decent shift from the winger, who certainly gives his side a real attacking lift when on the field. Less than 15 minutes remaining now for Sunderland to gain themselves at least a point.
SUNDERLAND SUB! Cattermole has had to leave the field due to a horror cut just above his eye. The midfielder came out second best when going head-to-head with Mutch, and will have to make way for Borini as a result.
It has been an incredibly stop-start second half, which may explain why Sunderland have yet to have a single shot on target this half. Two chances pretty much, both of which fell the visitors' way, and both of which they tucked away.
Yedlin's cross into the box is plucked out of the air by Hennessey. Palace looking very comfortable at the moment, as the hosts struggle to really carve their opponents open. Allardyce wanted for points from his team's next two games - that target looks likely to have passed him by.
CRYSTAL PALACE SUB! Wickham makes way for Adebayor with six minutes left to play. Four goals in the space of three days for the ex-Sunderland man, who left the field to a few jeers around the Stadium of Light.
All of Palace's changes made, then, so Sunderland will be hoping that they can build some momentum at long last. Many have opted to leave the Stadium of Light already, sensing that another defeat is now on the horizon.
Rodwell is off target with his drive, before Yedlin's wastefulness proves costly in a decent position. Sunderland seeing plenty of the ball now, but do not really look like finding the game's fourth goal.
GOAL! SUNDERLAND 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE (FABIO BORINI)
Incredible late drama in the North East, as substitute Fabio Borini levels up in the final minute of normal time. The substitute somehow picked out the far corner from the tightest of angles, perhaps catching out Hennessey by surprise.
Sunderland in the ascendency now as they punt the ball forward, backed by their home support. The roof will come off this place if the ball crosses the line for a fifth time!
FULL TIME: SUNDERLAND 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
So a huge point for Sunderland in the end, as they climb above rivals Newcastle United on goal difference. Borini somehow found the bottom corner to spark scenes of elation, but this point will only really mean something if the Black Cats go on and beat Southampton at the weekend. Sam Allardyce wanted four points from the six on offer, well that target is still achievable.
For Palace, meanwhile, their winless run stretches into an 11th game. Alan Pardew's side had the game there for the taking after Wickham's double, but they somehow managed to let it slip through their fingers. Well that concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Stadium of Light - thanks for joining!
