Crystal Palace have fallen to a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Sunderland in Saturday's Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
Lamine Kone opened the scoring in the ninth minute of the game after drawing a save from Wayne Hennessey before volleying home on the rebound.
The Eagles more than matched their opponents but the latter stages of the first half saw Didier Ndong and Jermain Defoe rattle three goals between them to leave the home side shellshocked.
Sam Allardyce's charges improved after the restart but a combination of lacklustre finishing and an inspired performance from Vito Mannone in the Black Cats goal saw the visitors finish with a clean sheet.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at Selhurst Park.
2.00pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at Selhurst Park.
2.03pmWe have a real relegation six-pointer on our hands today here in Southeast London as both Palace and Sunderland sit in the bottom three - with 17th-placed Swansea City not in action until Sunday, the Eagles can climb out of the relegation zone with victory today, while the Black Cats can edge to within two points of safety.
2.05pmPalace boss Sam Allardyce faces former club Sunderland for the first time today since leaving them last summer to become England manager, and will be hoping to make it two wins in a row following the first league victory under his tenure at Palace against Bournemouth in midweek.
2.07pmWithout further ado, let's bring you up to date with the team news.
2.09pmPALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Tomkins, Van Aanholt, Zaha, McArthur, Cabaye, Puncheon, Benteke
2.10pmSUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Mannone, Denayer, O'Shea, Kone, Jones, Ndong, Rodwell, Larsson, Oviedo, Januzaj, Defoe
2.11pmPALACE SUBS: Speroni, Flamini, Remy, Townsend, Sakho, Ledley, Fryers
2.12pmSUNDERLAND SUBS: Gibson, Borini, Khazri, Mika, Lescott, Pienaar, Manquillo
2.15pmSam Allardyce opts for an unchanged starting line-up following Palace's 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday, as new signing Patrick van Aanholt gets an immediate chance to renew acquaintances with his former employers from the start, while Liverpool loanee Mamadou Sakho makes the bench after his move on deadline day.
2.18pmSunderland gaffer David Moyes, meanwhile, makes two changes from Tuesday's goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur, as Bryan Oviedo lines up for his debut after his January move from Everton, replacing Javier Manquillo, while Adnan Januzaj starts ahead of Fabio Borini - both outgoing players make the bench alongside Oviedo's fellow former Toffee Darron Gibson.
2.21pmIn terms of absentees, Palace deadline-day acquisition Luka Milivojevic is not ready to feature, while Jeff Schlupp and Bakary Sako are out with hamstring problems, while the Black Cats have no new fitness concerns but remain without six injured players, and Papy Djilobodji is banned.
2.24pmThe most interesting sub-plot of the day here at Selhurst Park is that Sam Allardyce, who memorably helped Sunderland survive relegation last season, now takes on his former side as they find themselves in another struggle to remain in the Premier League.
2.27pmAs with Palace now, Allardyce found Sunderland in the relegation zone on 19 points from 23 games last season, and the 62-year-old pointed to his January signings at the time as a major factor in avoiding the drop - both the Eagles and Black Cats have been active in this year's winter transfer window and brought in a number of players, so it will be interesting to see what impact they will have in their respective teams, starting today.
2.30pmMamadou Sakho was not expected to play for Crystal Palace due to his lack of match fitness, but he has been named on the bench nonetheless. Could he make an impact for his new side?
#MatchDay @CPFC pic.twitter.com/W6fJS7Bz95
— Mamadou Sakho (@mamadousakho) February 4, 2017
2.33pmBoth Palace and Sunderland come into today's match at Selhurst Park on the back of decent results in midweek. The Eagles won at Bournemouth to edge themselves to two points from safety, which gives them the chance to escape the bottom three today, while the Black Cats frustrated Spurs with a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light which would no doubt have done good for morale.
2.36pmIn terms of the head-to-head stats, Sunderland are chasing a third successive win away at Crystal Palace, having won 1-0 at Selhurst Park in November 2015 and 3-1 in November 2014.
2.38pmOnly once in their last 14 away league games against Palace have Sunderland scored more than one goal.
2.41pmThe Eagles could win back-to-back league matches for only the second time since December 2015 - they won three in a row in September 2016.
2.43pmPalace have lost four successive Premier League home games, all by single-goal margins. Their only win in the last eight top-flight matches at Selhurst Park was 3-0 against Southampton on December 3 - they lost the other seven games.
2.45pmChristian Benteke, who starts for Palace today, has scored seven league goals versus Sunderland, more than against any other team. Four of those have come in his last three games against them, all for different teams (Aston Villa, Liverpool and Palace).
2.47pmAs for Sunderland, they have lost their last six league and cup away games, scoring just twice - November's 2-1 win at Bournemouth is their only victory in 11 Premier League away games this season.
2.48pmThe Black Cats have yet to keep a clean sheet away from home this season - their last shut-out on the road came in April's 3-0 win at Norwich City, under their previous manager.
2.50pmIn terms of interesting individual Sunderland players' stats, Jermain Defoe has scored four goals in his last five Premier League matches against Crystal Palace - but Jack Rodwell is yet to win a league game he has started for the Black Cats.
2.52pmPREDICTION: Time for me to have a go at predicting a result today - both sides today are in deep trouble at the bottom of the table, but I have the feeling that Palace, under the tutelage of Allardyce, will be more tactically sound and better-drilled, so I reckon it'll be a 2-1 win for the hosts.
2.54pmSam Allardyce speaking to reporters ahead of kick-off: "I just need the players to handle the pressure, because it is massive pressure on us. We will be - particularly from our fans - expected to win. We had that sort of expectation against Swansea just a few weeks ago. There were different circumstances why we lost that game then, but it is the same pressure we have to deal with and produce a performance. For the players it's making sure they focus like they did on Tuesday night, with the level of performance they gave. Hopefully that'd be enough to win. I would hate to see the type of performance we gave against Swansea."
2.58pmBoth sets of players have made their way out onto the Selhurst Park pitch - kickoff is not long away.
0 minKICKOFF! James McArthur gets the game underway for the hosts.
2 minWe have an early stoppage as Cabaye is fouled by Larsson - quite a heavy challenge, but the Palace man is okay and gets back up.
5 minPalace win a corner as a Puncheon ball is cleared behind following a misplaced Denayer clearance - Puncheon tries to find Benteke in the box with his set piece but the ball is cleared out for a second corner, which Mannone eventually claims.
6 minBOOKING: An early yellow in this game as Zaha tries to charge down the right flank and Larsson clatters into the Eagles man - no hesitation in showing the card from Andre Marriner.
8 minCHANCE! Defoe shoots under pressure from Ward after a good ball from Rodwell, but goalkeeper Hennessey does well to push his effort wide.
9 minVan Aanholt fouls Januzaj to give Sunderland a free kick amid a chorus of boos from the stands - Larsson to take from the middle of the Palace half.
9 minGOAL! PALACE 0-1 SUNDERLAND (LAMINE KONE)
10 minFirst blood to the visitors! Larsson's free kick finds Kone, who heads goalwards, Hennessey palms the ball away but collides with Jones so does not connect properly, allowing Kone a second chance to lash home on the volley!
13 minCHANCE! Palace set about trying to make amends and immediately win a corner after the restart, which sees Van Aanholt blast it over the crossbar with a volley.
16 minOviedo gives away a free kick after a tackle on Zaha, but the hosts do very little with it.
17 minThe action has become scrappy at Selhurst Park as both Puncheon and Rodwell give away the ball for their respective sides in quick succession.
20 minPENALTY SHOUT! Cabaye sends a corner in which flies over the heads of the players in the box and Zaha nearly latches onto the ball but goes to ground instead as the ball runs clear, the ref does nothing though.
23 minCHANCE! Larsson - who is on a yellow - again fouls Zaha, the home fans look for a sending-off for the Sunderland man but he just gets a talking to. Palace work the ball to Delaney, who gets the ball to the back post, but Tomkins heads wide from about two yards out!
25 minZaha lays the ball off into the path of Benteke but the striker's subsequent effort is tame and easily held by Mannone.
27 minSUBSTITUTION: An early change for Palace as Cabaye, who was clattered in the first minute by Larsson, limps off in place of Joe Ledley.
29 minA heart-in-mouth moment for Sunderland as Rodwell tries to find Oviedo with a backpass but gets it all wrong and forces Mannone to scramble off his line to hack the stray ball away.
31 minOviedo gets the better of Zaha on the left touchline before playing a pass to Rodwell in the centre, the ball is then worked through the Palace defence to Defoe but it's ruled out for offside.
31 minBOOKING: A clumsy challenge from Januzaj on Ledley, which results in the Sunderland man being shown a yellow card.
33 minBOOKING: Dann and Ward combine to get a cross into the box which reaches Benteke at the back post, but Kone is just ahead of the striker to hack behind, gifting the opposition a corner - Zaha is booked in the build-up for dissent as Sunderland manage to clear the set piece.
34 minThe ball returns to the Sunderland box shortly after their defence cleared but Mannone does well to slide in and nick the ball before a Palace shirt can get to it.
39 minDann fouls Defoe around 30 yards for goal to gift Sunderland a free kick, which Larsson eventually takes after a bit of delay. Benteke clears but Kone picks the ball up again and sends another cross into the box, which ultimately comes to nothing.
43 minGOAL! PALACE 0-2 SUNDERLAND (DIDIER NDONG)
45+1 minGOAL! PALACE 0-3 SUNDERLAND (JERMAIN DEFOE)
45+1 minAbsolutely incredible! From holding a narrow lead just before the break, Sunderland are now three goals to the good and have left Palace needing nothing short of a miracle to get something from this game!
45+2 minGOAL! PALACE 0-4 SUNDERLAND (JERMAIN DEFOE)
45+3 minHALF TIME: PALACE 0-4 SUNDERLAND
3.49pmOh my days! What an incredible end to the first half that was! Heading into the last five minutes of the first half, it looked like Sunderland were taking a slender one-goal lead into the second half, but THREE quickfire goals from the visitors have left Palace completely shellshocked!
3.52pmBarely enough time to even describe the goals, so here goes - Sunderland record signing Didier Ndong doubled his side's lead on 43 minutes after dispossessing Joe Ledley in midfield, marauding forward and firing home from 25 yards out. In the 46th minute, Adnan Januzazj broke down the left flank and cut the ball into the feet of Jermain Defoe, who slotted into the back of the net, and just moments later, Defoe collected a cross on the right-hand side of the box, turned past James Tomkins and grabbed his side's fourth.
3.55pmIt's now a case of saving face for Sam Allardyce and his Palace side in front of their own fans, who chanted "you're not fit to wear the shirt" at their players. A dismal showing for the hosts, it has to be said.
3.58pmIn terms of the match stats, it could actually be argued that Palace have edged it in many aspects (prior to the three-goal salvo, obviously) - 171 completed passes compared to Sunderland's 91, 64 percent possession, four corners to Sunderland's one... truly, nobody could have seen this coming. Just what will the second half bring?
4.01pmNuts. Absolutely nuts.
4 - Sunderland have scored as many away goals today (4) as they did in their previous nine Premier League away games combined. Feast.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 4, 2017
46 minKICKOFF: Sunderland get the second half underway.
46 minSUBSTITUTION: Andros Townsend has replaced Damien Delaney for Palace at the start of the second half - it has been reported that the defender was involved in a confrontation with a fan on his way down the tunnel.
49 minThe hosts win a free kick after a foul on Zaha, which is played into the box and cleared into the path of McArthur, who goes for goal from distance but blasts wide.
51 minWe have a break in play as Rodwell is down in the centre circle receiving treatment - could today be the day that he finally claims his first win after starting for Sunderland? (It looks to be that way, but let's not jinx it shall we?)
54 minSUBSTITUTION: Rodwell comes off as Darron Gibson makes his first appearance for Sunderland after signing from Everton.
55 minZaha looks to flick the ball into the path of Benteke but Kone, who has been superb today, manages to nip in ahead of him and heads it comfortably to Mannone.
58 minSUBSTITUTION: We have another enforced change as Joleon Lescott replaces John O'Shea, who hit the deck moments earlier and received treatment. Defoe now takes the captain's armband for the visitors.
60 minSunderland get a lucky decision as Oviedo slips on the surface when appearing to contest a ball with Zaha, but the referee believes it to be a foul and pulls back play for a free kick.
61 minPalace fail to make the most of a Sunderland lapse in concentration at the back - Larsson passes the ball back to Mannone in the box and the keeper makes a hash of his clearance, but Puncheon's opportunistic effort after claiming the ball fails to pose any danger.
62 minSUBSTITUTION: James McArthur leaves the field to a chorus of boos from the home crowd as Loic Remy comes in his place.
65 minCHANCE! Palace refuse to throw in the towel and carve out another opening as Townsend sends a cross into the box which falls to Benteke, who nods towards goal but Mannone parries away before Denayer clears.
66 minMannone is most likely going to be on the winning side this afternoon but he has experienced a few nervy moments as he spills the ball which nearly sets Benteke up, but the offside flag puts an end to that move. Moments later, Townsend hits a tame cross which the Italian scrambles out for an unnecessary corner, but that also comes to nothing as Benteke clears the bar with an overhead kick.
67 minBOOKING: Joel Ward is the latest Palace player to enter Marriner's book for a foul on Januzaj.
70 minBOOKING: Sunderland are very much taking their time now on the pitch, but Lescott brings down Zaha right on the edge of the box to gift Palace a free kick - Kone then goes into the box for kicking the ball away.
72 minIt comes to nothing though - Benteke's low free kick hits the wall and Tomkins blasts well over on the rebound.
74 minCHANCE! Oviedo feeds the ball into the path of Januzaj at the top of the box and the Belgian fires from range, but the effort just whistles past Hennessey's post.
77 minSUBSTITUTION: Now Januzaj, who has been impressive today, looks spent after going down with what I assume is cramp, and is replaced by Steven Pienaar for the latter stages of the game.
82 minCHANCES! Remy carves out two openings in quick succession, but neither effort is powerful enough to trouble Mannone.
84 minCHANCE! Zaha gets away down the left flank, beats Jones and sends a cross towards Benteke, who lashes wide from around six yards out. Pretty much sums up the afternoon for Palace.
85 minBOOKING: Puncheon is shown a yellow card as he clatters into Pienaar - looks very much borne out of frustration.
86 minPalace will finish the game with ten men as Dann is forced to go off with what seems to be a hamstring strain and Allardyce is out of changes.
88 minCHANCE! Palace with another chance to salvage a consolation as Zaha whips the ball into the box, Denayer clears into the path of Puncheon, who smashes a thunderbolt towards goal, but the Manchester City loanee makes a great goalline clearance to thwart the danger.
90 minCHANCE! Sunderland so close to making it five as Larsson blasts an effort just wide of the top corner from around 25 yards out. Four minutes added on.
90+2 minCHANCE! Mannone pushes away a Zaha shot before getting in the way of a Benteke header - the striker then gets onto the rebound but blasts wide.
90+4 minFULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-4 SUNDERLAND
4.52pmThe referee calls time on the match and it's turned out to be an eventful one at Selhurst Park, as Crystal Palace fall to a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Sunderland.
4.55pmIt's been one of those crazy games - the first half, anyway - as David Moyes's charges led by one goal heading into the last five minutes of the first 45, before a three-goal salvo put the visitors out of reach, and despite an improved display by the Eagles after the restart, they could not even claim a consolation.
4.58pmThat's all we have time for here at Selhurst Park but stick with Sports Mole as we bring you match reports, reaction and all the latest news throughout the course of the day! Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye!
