SUNDERLAND recovered from another own goal - their fourth of the season so far - to collect their first away league win this campaign at the expense of 10-man Crystal Palace.
Looking to break a hoodoo of 12 years without a Barclays Premier League win on a Monday evening, the visitors appeared on course for a much-needed victory when Steven Fletcher notched his third goal of the season. But they made life difficult for themselves when Wes Brown scored the sixth Premier League own goal of his career, and Sunderland's fourth in their last three games.
Jordi Gomez, though, scored to retake the lead from a rare second-half break, before a bad night was made worse for the hosts when captain Mile Jedinak was dismissed having collected two yellow cards. Fletcher completed an impressive personal display by tucking home a second in the final seconds.
Neil Warnock, the Crystal Palace manager, pointed to the referee's decision not to give a penalty in the very first minute when Frazier Campbell was brought down by Santiago Vergini. "It is a cruel game, football," Warnock sighed. "We have ended up losing 3-1 which on paper looks a poor defeat but I can't fault the lads tonight but decisions change games. You don't get a clearer penalty than Fraizer Campbell's."
The result takes Gus Poyet's side above Palace. The home side are now winless in four, only sitting outside of the bottom three thanks to a better goal record than Leicester City.
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