When, on Friday, it became clear that Crystal Palace were selling Marc Guéhi to Manchester City and Oliver Glasner announced he would be leaving at the end of the season, Sunderland supporters turned a little nervous.
They fretted that Palace might react to not merely the loss of their best defender and the impending departure of a much-admired manager but the ignominy of last weekend’s FA Cup calamity at non-league Macclesfield by demonstrating that they are not so shabby after all.
Such fears would prove unfounded as Sunderland came from behind to extend Palace’s winless run to 10 games in all competitions thanks to goals from the excellent Enzo Le Fée and Brian Brobbey.
After a series of creditable draws, it was Sunderland’s first Premier League victory since Newcastle were sunk here last month and left a side unbeaten here this season with 33 points. Palace possess five fewer but their horizon looks considerably bleaker.
Sunderland began in utterly dominant mode, but Granit Xhaka, uncharacteristically, ceded possession in central midfield and Yéremy Pino cued up Jean-Philippe Mateta. Palace’s advancing centre-forward seemed certain to score and would surely have done so had not Robin Roefs, once again, highlighted his goalkeeping quality by expertly narrowing the angle before making the save.
