Sunderland have beaten Crystal Palace 3 - 1 in tonight's only game in the Barclays Premier League.

Steven Fletcher scored twice for the Black Cats to help them climb out of the drop zone.

After surviving an early penalty appeal, Sunderland took the lead in the 31st minute when the Scottish international headed the visitors in front.

Palace deservedly equalised 10 minutes into the second half when Wes Brown conceded an own goal after clever play from Fraizer Campbell.

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

But Jordi Gomez put Sunderland back into the lead with a powerful low shot from 25 yards out and Fletcher made sure of the points with an injury-time strike after Palace had been reduced to ten men following a second yellow card for team captain Mile Jedinak.